LUCKY 
PEHR 


BY 


AUGUSXyiiH 

STRINDBERG 


TRANSLATED  BY 

VELMASWANSTON  HOWARD 


!'  '       li 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 
RIVERSIDE 


SMI'  ■-• '  S 

"ACRES  OF  SOO 
CINCINNATI 


LIBRARY    EDITION  OF 

AUGUST  STIUNDBERG'S 

TWO  GREATEST  PLAYS 

ATITHORIZED    TRANSLATION     BY 
VELMA  SWANSTON   HOWARD 

EASTER,    A    Play   in   Three  Acts, 
AND    STORIES 

Net,  $1.50.     Postage  extra 

LUCKY    PEHR.     A  Drama  in  Five 
Acts. 

Net,  $1.50.     Postage  extra 

STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


AUGUST   STRINDBERG 

COURTESY  OF  FREDERICK    KEPPEL&CO 


LUCKY  PEHR 


(A  Drama  in  Five  Acts) 


FROM   THE  SWEDISH  OF 

AUGUST   STRINDBERG 

AUTHOR   OF     "  EASTER,"    ETC. 


TRANSLATED  BY 

VELMA  SWANSTON   HOWARD 


AUTHOR  IZKD     EDITIOV 


CINCINNATI 
STEAVART  fk  KID!)  COMPANY 


L?/\3 


Copyright  1912 

STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY 

Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London,  England 


j4n  rights  reserved 

First    Impression    December,    1912 
Second    Impression   -luiie,    1913 


Fncdimilo  of   Hfrr  Sf rindlnTK'o  niithori/ntion,   whfri-in    lu"   kovc   Io    Mfh.    Howard 
]0        the   English   rightu  of   tniiiHlntion    for  hiH   |>liiy  vnlitled    "Lucky  I'uhr,"    alBO 
the  producing  rights  in  America  of  said  play. 


CHARACTERS 


Old    Man    in    the 

Tower. 
Pehr. 
Lisa. 
Fairy. 
Elf. 
Rats     (Nilla    and 

Nisse). 
Butler. 
Assessor. 
Petitioner. 
First  Friend. 
Second  Friend. 
A  Woman. 
Pillory. 
Statue. 
Wagon  maker. 
Shoemaker. 
Chiropodist. 
Street-paver. 


Relative. 
Burgomaster. 
One  of  the  People. 
Chamberlain  of  the 

Caliph. 
Ameer. 

Court  Historian. 
Court  Mullah. 
Grand  Vizier. 
Poet  Laureate. 
Bride. 
Singer. 
Death. 
Wise  Man. 
Saint  Bartholomew. 
Saint  Laurence. 
Broom. 
Pall. 
A  Voice. 


Townspeople,  Dancers,  Viziers,  Courtiers, 
Court  Attendants,  etc. 


LUCKY  PEER 

(Allegorical  Play  in  Five  Acts) 

From  the  Swedish  of  August  Strindberg 
Translated  by  Velma  Swanstou  Howard 


SYNOPSIS  OF  SCENES 

Act      I. — Kooui  in  a  Churcli  Tower. 

Act    IL — (a)    Forest — (b)    Eicli  Man's   Ban- 

qnet  Hall. 
Act  III. — Public  Square  and  Town  Hall. 
Act   IV. — (a)  Calipli's  Palace — (b)  Seashore. 
Act     V. — Country  Churcli  (Interior). 

Time:     Middle  Ages. 


ACT   ONE 


ACT  ONE 

Scene:    A  Room  in  the  Church  Tower. 

Window  shutters  at  back  tvide  open,  starlit 
sky  is  seen  through  ivindoius.  Background: 
Snow  covered  house-roofs;  gable  luindoivs  in 
the  distance  brilliantly  illuminated.  In  room 
an  old  chair,  a  fire-pan  and  a  picture  of 
the  Virgin,  luith  u  lighted  candle  before  it. 
Room  is  divided  by  posts — two  in  centre 
thick  enough  to  conceal  an  adult. 

Chant,  in  unison,  from  the  church  below: 

A  Solis  ortus  cardine 

Et  usque  torrae  lijiiitcm 
Christum  caiiamus  piincipem 

Natum  Maria  Vir^ni. 

[^Ohl  Man  comes  up  tower  steps  and  enters 
carrying  a  rat-trap,  a  haiicy-shcaj  (iiid  <i 
dish  of  porridge,  which  he  sets  down  on  the 
foor.\ 

'6 


LUCKY  PETIR 


Old  Man. 

Now  the  elf  shall  have  his  Christmas  por- 
ridge. And  this  year  he  has  earned  it  honestly 
— twice  he  awakened  me  when  I  fell  asleep  and 
forgot  the  tower  shntters ;  once  he  rang  the  bell 
when  fire  broke  loose.  Merry  Christmas,  Elf! 
and  many  of  them.  [Takes  up  rat-trap  and 
sets  it.l  Here's  yonr  Christmas  mess,  Satan's 
rats ! 

A  Voice. 

Curse  not  Christmas! 

Old  Man. 

I  believe  there  are  spirits  about  to-night — 
Ugh!  it's  the  cold  increasing;  then  the  beams 
always  creak,  like  an  old  ship.  Here's  your 
Christmas  supper.  Now  perhaps  you'll  quit 
gnawing  the  bell-rope  and  eating  up  the  tallow, 
you  accursed  pest ! 

A  Voice. 
Curse  not  Christmas ! 

Old  Man. 
The    spooks    are    at    it    again!     Christmas 
eve — yes,  yes!     [Places  rat-trap  on  the  floor.] 

4 


LFCKY  PEHR 


There!  Now  they  have  their  portion.  And 
now  conies  the  tuni  of  the  feathered  wretches. 
They  mnst  have  grain,  of  course,  so  they  can 
soil  the  tin  roof  for  me.  Such  is  life!  The 
church  wardens  pay  for  it,  so  it's  not  my  af- 
fair. But  if  I  were  to  ask  for  an  extra  shilling 
or  two  in  wages — that  they  couldn't  afford. 
That  wouldn't  be  seen!  But  when  one  sticks 
out  a  grain-shoaf  on  a  pole  once  a  year,  it  looks 
so  generous.  Ah,  that  one  is  a  fine  fellow! 
— and  generosity  is  a  virtue.  Now,  if  we  were 
to  share  and  share  alike,  I  should  get  back  my 
porridge,  which  I  gave  to  the  elf.  [Shakes 
sheaf  and  gathers  the  grain  into  a  bowl.] 

A  Voice. 
lie  robs  Christmas!     Tie  robs  Christmas! 

Oi,i)  Max. 
Now  I'll  put  lliis  tiling  on  the  pole  so  that 
if  will  look  like  a  symbol,  and  as  a  symbol  it 
will  also  be  of  service — for  i1  shows  what  is 
not  to  be  fouinl  witliin.  [fie  puis  sheaf 
through  wiudow  and  hangs  if  on  pole,  then 
shahcs  his  fist  at  toivn  IjcIoic]  Ob,  yon  old  bn- 
nian  pit  down  there!     I  spit  on  you!     [Spits 

5 


LUCKY  PEHR 


through  ivindoiv;  comes  down  and  sees  the 
hurning  candle  before  the  Virgin's  picture.] 
This  must  be  the  boy's  doings!  The  thnes 
are  not  such  that  one  burns  up  candles  need- 
lessly. [Snuffs  out  light  and  puts  the  candle 
into  his  pocket.'] 

A  Voice. 

Woe !  Woe !  [Head  of  Virgin  shakes  three 
times  and  a  bright  ray  of  light  darts  out  from 
the  head.] 

Old  Man. 
[Shrinking.]     Is  hell  let  loose  to-night? 

A  Voice. 
Heaven ! 

Old  Man. 

Pehr,  Pehr!  Where  are  you?  My  eyes! 
Light  the  candles — My  son,  my  son ! 

Virgin's  Image. 
My  Son! 

Old  Man. 

[Groping  his  ivay  toward  the  stairs.]  My 
eyes!    Hell-fire!     [He  rushes  down  the  steps.] 

6 


LUCKY  PEHR 


[Tiuo  rats,  Nisse  and  Nilla,  come  on  right, 
one  behind  the  other.  They  have  mourning 
veils  swathed  about  their  tails.] 

Nisse. 
I  say,  it  smells  like  roast  pig! 

Nilla. 

Oh,  I  promise  you!  Be  careful,  Nisse!  I 
see  the  trap  over  there.  [Sits  on  hind  legs.'\ 
'Twas  in  that  very  trap  that  our  little  ones 
were  lost!     0  dear,  dear,  dear! 

Nisse. 

If  we  could  only  hit  upon  some  trick  to  play 
on  the  bad  old  man  it  would  do  my  bowels 
good!  Can  you  see  if  ho  lias  left  anything 
about  which  he  values! 

Nilla. 

Suppose  we  gnaw  the  ropes  so  the  bells  will 
tumble  down  on  his  head — 

Nisse, 

WHiy,  Nilla!  you  know  that  I  have  only  one 
poor  tooth  loft  in  my  head. 

7 


LUCKY  PEHR 


NiLLA. 

But  I  have  two — and  where  there's  a  will 
there's — but  you,  you  have  no  feeling  for  your 
children ! 

NiSSE. 

Come  now!  we  shan't  quarrel  on  Christmas 
Eve. 

NiLLA. 

Hush!    What  have  we  here? 

NiSSE. 

A  dish  of  porridge — 

NiLLA. 

Which  the  old  man  has  left — 

NiSSE. 

For  the  elf.     He's  afraid  of  him! 

NiLLA. 

Now  I  know!  We'll  eat  up  the  porridge 
so — 

NiSSE. 


The  elf  will  get  after  him — 

8 


LUCKY  PEER 


NiLLA. 

And  he  can  raise  the  mischief  when  he  gets 
angiy.  [They  are  over  by  the  dish  now,  and 
eating. 'I 

NiSSE. 

Oh,  move  along  and  make  room  for  me! 

NiLLA. 

Hush !     It  creaks  in  the  stairs. 

NiSSE. 

Now  I  see  the  bottom  of  the  dish ;  there 's  the 
lump  of  butter! 

NiLLA. 

Help  me  with  this  corner. 

NiSSE. 

Ah! — now  we'll  wipe  our  mouths  and  ran. 
[They  scurry  off  left.] 

[Elf  slides  down  hell- rope.] 

Elf. 

[Walks  about  and  searches.]  Wliore's  my 
Christmas  porridge?  I  scented  its  aroma  a 
long  way  off.     It  will  taste  good  to  me  on  a  cohl 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


night,  like  this.  I  hope  he  has  given  me  a  big 
lump  of  butter  this  year,  since  I  have  been  so 
good  to  him.  [Loosens  belt.']  There!  get  you 
ready,  my  stomach.  I'll  let  out  two  holes  in  the 
belt,  which  will  make  it  about  right.  [He  sees 
dish.']  Ah,  ha!  what's  this?  Empty  dishes! 
What  has  come  over  the  old  man-hater?  Has 
he  grown  stingy  and  arrogant,  or  does  he  mock 
me,  when  he  sets  out  an  empty  dish!  There 
has  been  porridge  here  [smells] — butter,  too! 
Well,  well,  old  man!  I'm  sorry  for  you,  but 
I  shall  have  to  punish  you.  The  elf  is  for  the 
purpose  of  punishing  and  rewarding.  I  must 
sit  down  and  think  out  some  real  Christmas 
gift.  [Sits  in  chair.]  Let  me  see!  The  old 
man  shuts  himself  up  in  this  place  with  his 
son,  whom  he  wishes  to  shield  from  the  evils 
and  shams  of  the  world.  The  old  man  has  seen 
much  of  the  world,  and  hates  it ;  the  young  one 
has  never  been  beyond  the  church  door  and  has 
seen  the  world  only  from  the  tower.  But  I 
know  that  it  tempts  him,  just  because  he  has 
seen  it  like  this — from  a  bird's-eye  view.  The 
old  man  has  but  one  wish  in  life — that  his  son 
shall    succeed   him    and    thus    be    spared   the 

10 


LUCKY  PEHR 


struggles  of  life  and  the  cruelty  of  men.  It 
is  this  wish  which  I  shall  cross;  it  is  his  only 
vulnerable  point.  AYell  and  good!  I'll  call 
his  godmother.  She  shall  take  the  boy  in  hand 
and  show  him  all  the  glories  of  the  world; 
afterwards,  there  will  be  nothing  more  for  the 
old  man  to  do  in  the  matter.  The  dreams  of 
youth — I  know  their  powers.  Well,  then! 
[Bloivs  a  whistle.} 

[Fairy   dressed   Hie    an    old   tmtcli,   tvith 

hroivn  cloak  and  cane,  emerges  from  behind 

a  post.] 

Fairy. 
Good  evening,  lad. 

Elf. 

Good  evening,  old  lady.     Can  you  corrupt  a 
young  man? — Oh!  understand  me  aright. 

Fairy. 
That  depends — 

Elf. 

It  won't   go  in  tliai   costume!     You  see,  it's 
a  question  of  the  old  man's  son. 

11 


LUCKY  PEim 


Fairy. 
Our  Pehr? 

Elf. 
Just  he!  Hush,  old  hidy,  I'm  talking  now! 
The  boy  is  very  dear  to  my  heart — that  he  has 
been  ever  since  his  birth.  We — you  and  I — 
stood  sponsor  for  him,  and  we  each  have  our 
duties.  His  education  is  being  neglected;  he 
has  seen  nothing  of  the  world,  although  he  is 
fifteen  to-day.  I  want  him  to  go  out  and  look 
around  so  he  will  be  a  credit  to  us.  Have  you 
anything  against  it? 

Fairy. 

Nothing.  But  I  fear  that  he  will  meet  with 
difficulties  out  there  which  we  cannot  adjust, 
since  our  power  does  not  extend  beyond  these 
church  walls. 

Elf. 

True;  and  I  must  search  my  brain  for  an- 
other idea.  Ah — I  have  it!  We'll  each  give 
him  his  godgift,  which  can  serve  him  in  all  con- 
ditions of  life. 

Fairy. 

And  what  shall  you  give?    Let  us  hear! 

12 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Elf. 

Life  is  rather  ticklish,  as  you  know,  and  the 
boy  is  young!  He  has  not  as  yet,  through 
proper  training,  had  time  to  learn  all  the  arts 
by  which  one  gains  one's  wishes.  Now,  I  ask 
nothing  more  of  life,  for  I  know  what  it  gives ; 
therefore  he  shall  have  my  wish-ring.  And 
you? 

Fairy. 

I  daresay  that  gift  is  a  good  one,  but  when 
once  he  has  got  all  that  he  wished  for,  he  will 
have  made  his  journey  like  the  blind ;  therefore 
I  shall  give  him  a  gift  which  will  show  him  mat- 
ter's face  value — I  shall  give  him  good  com- 
pany on  the  way. 

Elf. 
Feminine? 

Faiey. 

Naturally. 

Elf. 

You're  a  wise  one!  No — now  you  shall  take 
charge  of  the  lad  and  see  that  he  gets  away. 


13 


LUCKY  PEITR 


Fairy. 
But  how?    He  fears  and  obeys  his  father. 

Elf. 

Fiddlesticks!  Do  your  hokus-pokus  and 
show  him  all  the  glories  down  there,  in  the 
Christmas-bedecked  homes.  Then  it  will  go 
fast  enough! 

Fairy. 

Do  you  think  so? 

Elf. 

I  know  the  young.  Here's  my  ring — and 
now  to  business! 

Fairy. 
Is  it  right  to  play  with  human  destiny? 

Elf. 
We  only  play  with  human  beings,  their  des- 
tinies we  do  not  control.  Soon  or  late,  the  boy 
will  go  out  into  the  world,  and  he  is  better 
equipped  than  many  who  have  faced  life  before 
him.  When  his  journey  is  over,  we  can  dis- 
cuss the  subject  more  at  length.  Are  you 
ready  ? 

14 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Fairy. 

[Going  toward  post.]  Immediately.  [Fairy 
disappears.'] 

Elf. 

Then  I'll  whistle.  [Disappears  behind  the 
other  post.] 

[Pehr  comes  down  steps  leading  from  top 
of  tower.] 

Pehr. 
Wlio's  there? 

Fairy. 

[Appears  suddenly,  dressed  in  luhite.]  Your 
godmother,  Pehr.     Don't  you  know  mo? 

Pehr. 

Ah!  you  are  the  one  who  caught  me  in  your 
arms  that  time,  when  I  fell  from  the  tower. 
\VIiat  do  you  want  of  me  to-day? 

Fairy. 
I  want  to  give  you  a  Christmas  gift. 

Pehb. 

A  gift?     What  is  that? 

15 


LUCKY  PEER 


Fairy. 
Something  that  gives  one  pleasure. 

Pehk. 
Pleasure? 

Faiey. 
Fulfillment  of  one's  wishes. 

Pehk. 
Wishes!     Now  I  begin  to  understand. 

Faiey. 
Wlien   standing   out   there   on   the   balcony, 
have  you  never  felt  as  if  something  were  draw- 
ing you — sort  of  enticing  you  down? 

Pehk. 

Yes,  that  I  have  felt.  You  see  the  black 
streak  over  there,  where  light  and  darkness 
meet?  In  the  daytime  it  looks  different;  and 
when  the  wind  blows,  it  moves. 

Faiky. 

The  forest. 

Pehe. 

What  is  it  like  in  the  forest? 

16 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Faiky. 
It  is  cool  and  deliglitful. 

Pehr. 

That's  well!  Thither  I  am  drawn,  some- 
times, so  powerfully  that  I  want  to  rush 
through  the  tower  window  and  soar,  like  the 
birds  in  the  air! 

Fairy. 
Beyond  the  borders  of  the  forest? 

Pehr. 
Is  there  something  beyond? 

Fairy. 
There  lies  the  world. 

Pehr. 

The  world!     ^Y]mt  is  that? 

Fahiy. 
Would  you  like  to  see  it? 

Peiir. 

Is  it  pleasant? 

17 


LUCKY  PEER 


Fairy. 

Some  say  it  is;  the  majority  say  it  is  not. 
Come  over  here  and  I  will  show  you  some  pic- 
tures from  that  checkered  panorama  which 
people  call  life.     [Transparency  curtain.] 

Do  you  see  the  great  house  on  the  square, 
where  all  the  windows  are  lighted?  The  rich 
man  lives  there.  Now  look  into  the  rooms. 
On  the  table  there  is  a  lighted  Christmas- 
tree  laden  with  all  kinds  of  gifts:  the  golden 
fruits  of  the  tropics  from  across  the  seas; 
earth's  hidden  treasures,  to  which  people  bend 
the  knee  and  which  in  their  dazzling  settings 
reflect  the  lights.  But,  do  you  see  the  light  in 
the  faces  of  the  little  children?  That  is  the 
earth-life's  sun — that  is  happiness — which  is 
something  you  do  not  know,  poor  child!  But 
you  shall  know  it.     You  want  to,  do  you  not? 

Pehr. 

Who  is  the  good  fairy  that  walks  about  and 
gives  the  children  the  golden  fruits? 

Fairy. 
That  is  the  mother. 


18 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehe. 
Mother? — I  don't  understand. 

Fairy. 
You,  too,  had  a  mother,  but  she  died  when 
you  were  very  young. 

Pehe. 
And  the  old  man  in  the  corner,  with  the  mild 
look  in  his  eyes? 

Fairy. 

He  is  the  father,  who  in  memory  is  living 
over  his  childhood. 

Pehr. 
The  father!     But  he  looks  so  pleasant. 

Fairy. 
Yes,  for  he  loves  some  one  besides  himself. 

Pf.ttr. 
And  tlio  youth  who  puts  his  arm  around 
the  young  giil's  waist —  [Kafjcjiy.']  Now  lie 
j)ressos  his  face  [igainst  hers — tlieir  lips  meet 
— what  does  that  mean?  Does  one  speak  like 
thai  ill  life? 

19 


LUCKY  PKIIR 


Fairy. 
That  is  love's  way  of  speaking. 

Pehr. 

Love!  Then  it  must  be  glorious  to  see  it 
all? 

Fairy. 
Wait!    Now  look  up  there,  in  the  gable  win- 
dow— a  single  candle  bums,  a  poor,  wretched 
light.     [Tableau.] 

Pehr. 
Poverty!    That   I   know.     Show   me    some- 
thing pretty! 

Fairy. 

[Regarding  him.]  You  are  pleasure  loving. 
Very  well ! — Look  again  up  there,  around  the 
same  Christmas  light — it  shines  dimly  but 
warmly  on  the  contented  table  of  poverty. 

Peitr. 
No!     T  want  to  see  something  beautiful. 

Fairy. 

Really!  Is  there  anything  more  beautiful 
than — but,  wait!  you  shall  see — Now  look  over 

20 


LUCKY  PEHR 


yonder — toward   the    castle,    where    the    King 
lives.     [Tableau.] 

Pehr. 
Oh! 

Fairy. 

Do  you  see  the  beautiful  robes,  the  glitter- 
ing jewels?  Do  you  see  how  the  walls  reflect 
the  brilliant  lights  and  how  in  the  middle  of 
winter  real  roses  and  blue  lilies  are  in  bloom? 

Pehr. 
Oh! 

Fairy. 

And  the  young  girls,  with  the  flowing  locks, 
who  serve  wine  in  silver  goblets — 

Pehr. 

There  I  want  to  be ! 

Fairy. 

And  now  stewards,  in  white,  cany  on  the 
dishes. 

Pehr. 
Oh! 

21 


LUCKY  PFJTR 


Fairy. 
The  heralds  rap  on  the  floor  with  their  staves 
— the  tnimpets  sound —  [TIdcc  strokes  of  a 
bell  are  heard;  the  tower  chamher  takes  on 
its  former  appearance.^  Alas!  the  time  is  up. 
Pohr,  do  you  wish  to  2:0  out  and  taste  of  lifel 

Pehr. 
Yes,  yes! 

Fairy. 
Good  and  bad? 

Pehr. 

Bad  ?     That  I  think  I  know ;  the  good  I  would 
learn  to  know. 

Fairy. 
You  til  ink  so?     But  you  shall  soon  see  that 
all  which  seems  good  is  not  good,  and  all  that 
seems  bad  is  not  bad. 

Pehr. 
Only  let  me  get  out — and  away  from  here! 

Fairy. 
You  may  go;  but  first  I  want  to  give  you,  as 
a  help  on  your  journey,  a  gift  which  will  be 

22 


LUCKY  PEHR 


of  service  to  you.  AVhen  you  have  it,  you  will 
have  been  given  more  than  others,  and  there- 
fore more  will  be  required  of  you  at  some  fu- 
ture time. 

Pehk. 
Let  me  see  it ! 

Fairy. 

This  ring  has  the  power  to  grant  you  all  your 
wishes — to  your  credit,  but  to  no  one's  harm. 


Pehe. 

a  fine  rin, 
man  sav? 


That's  a  fine  ring!    But  what  will  the  old 


Fairy. 

He  is  only  going  to  meet  with  his  just  pun- 
ishment— punishment  for  his  selfishness. 

Pehr. 

Yes,  that  is  just.     All  the  same  I  feel  sorry 
for  him. 

Fairy. 
Do  not  grieve  for  him  ;  T  shall  watch  over  his 


sorrow. 


21] 


LUCKY  PEITR 


Pehr. 

Sorrow!  Nothing  else?  Sorrow,  he  says, 
is  tlie  one  pleasure  in  life.  Let  him  sit  and  en- 
joy it  then.  I  shall  probably  furnish  him  with 
opportunities. 

Fairy. 

And  lastly,  young  man,  will  you  take  pro- 
visions from  the  Wise  Man? 

Pehr. 
What  should  they  be?— Good  advice? 

Fairy. 
Yes. 

Pehr. 

Alas,  I  have  such  quantities  of  that ! 

Fairy. 

I  know  that,  and  I  know  its  fate.  Farewell 
then!  ^Slay  life  so  teach  you  to  live  that  when 
your  journey  is  over  you  shall  be — whether 
great  or  obscure;  successful  or  unsuccessful; 
learned  or  ignorant — a  man,  and  above  all,  a 
manly  man.  Farewell!  [Fairy  disappears  in 
column.] 

24 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehe. 

[Alone.]  Well,  Pelir,  you  are  going  out  into 
life!  Others  before  you  have  probably  done 
likewise.  But  is  it,  then,  so  difficult  out  there? 
To  be  sure  I  have  stood  on  the  church  roof 
and  watched  the  throngs  of  people  down  in  the 
street  crawl  around  each  other,  going  and  com- 
ing. To  me  they  appear  so  quiet  and  orderly, 
and  I  don't  see  that  they  trample  on  one  an- 
other, although  they  are  as  thick  as  gnats. 
That  dogs  and  apprentices  fight  sometimes, 
that  I  have  seen,  but  grown  folk — never!  The 
old  man  and  I  never  fight,  although  we  pass 
each  other  on  the  stairs  ten  times  a  day. 
True,  he  has  beaten  me,  but  I  have  never  beaten 
him ;  and  other  people  may  not  be  so  bad  either, 
if  the  truth  were  told.  Wasn't  there  a  fire  the 
otlier  day  in  the  house  of  a  rich  merchant  and 
didn't  a  lot  of  poor  wretches  come  running 
from  all  directions,  and  didn't  they  go  up  to 
the  rich  man's  place  and  save  his  goods?  Oh, 
yes,  I  saw  how  they  took  silver  pieces  from 
his  table  and  earned  tlicm  far  out  of  the  city, 
where  thov  hid  them  b-Oiiiid  liavstaeks  so  the 
silver   wouldn't   be    burned    up.     Wasn't   that 

25 


LUCKY  nam 


kiiul  of  them?  We  shall  see,  we  shall  see! 
Meanwhile,  my  dear  Pelir,  you  shall  go  out  and 
have  a  look  at  the  world  and  make  use  of  your 
gifts.  [Examines  ring.]  Let's  see!  What 
shall  I  wish  for  first? 

[Old  wan  enters  as  if  through  luall.] 

Pehr. 

Oh!  so  the  old  man  is  here.  I  did  not  hear 
your  footsteps  on  the  stairs.  Which  way  did 
you  come? 

Old  Man. 
[Alarmed.]     Did  you  see? 

Pehb. 
No. 

Old  Man. 

Let  me  look  at  you!  [Gazes  fixedly  at  him.] 
Something  has  happened  here — 

Pehr. 
Nothing — nothing  whatever! 


26 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Old  Man. 

My  son,  it  will  soon  be  midnight.  Don't 
you  want  to  retire  to  your  room  so  tliat  I  may 
lock  you  in? 

Pehr. 

You  always  want  to  sliut  me  in!  Tell  me, 
Father,  have  you  never  meant  to  let  me  out  in 
the  world?  Surely  you  cannot  have  thought 
that  I  should  sit  here  forever,  and  dry  up! 

Old  Man. 

I  have  seen  life;  I  know  its  Sodom  apples — 
therefore  I  wish  to  shield  you. 

Pehr. 
But  life  is  not  as  sour  as  you  say,  perhaps. 

Old  Man. 
What  do  you  know  about  it? 

Peiir. 

Oh,  I  can  Koo  tilings  from  my  liigli  place! 
Come  here  and  I  will  show  you. 


27 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Old  Man. 

"What  can  you  show  me  that  I  do  not  already 
know? 

Pehk. 

[Leads  Old  Man  to  the  ivindoiv.']     Look!     Do 
you  see  the  great  house  on  the  square? 

Old  Man. 

Yes;    but    make    haste!     Before    the    dock 
strikes  twelve,  you  must  he  in  bed. 

Pehr. 

Do  you  see  the  Christmas-tree,  with  its  gold 
and  silver? 

Old  Man. 
Only  paper,  boy ! 

Pehr. 
And  the  golden  fruits  of  the  tropics? 

Old  Man. 

Worm-eaten — 

Pehr. 

And  the  sun — Happiness — how  it  shines  on 
the  children's  faces! 

28 


LUCKY  PEER 


Old  Man. 
Between  times  distorted  by  envy — 

Pehr. 

And  the  old  man  who  sits  there,  contented 
and  happy — 

Old  Man. 

It's  a  lie!  He  trembles  in  his  heart  for  the 
house  rent,  which  nnist  bo  paid  on  the  new 
year — 

Pehr. 

He — the  rich  man? 

Old  Man. 
Hides  his  approaching  downfall! 

Pehr. 

And  those  yonn.i!:  peo]ilo — Do  you  see  how  he 
stretches  his  arm — 

Old  Man. 
After  the  father's  money  bag  I 

I^KIIR. 

Shame  on  you!     Tlicii-  lips  meet — 

29 


LUCKY  PETTR 


In  lust! 


Old  Man. 


Pehr. 


What  is  that? — Ah!  Now  look  up  there,  at 
the  gable  window,  with  the  single  light — 

Old  Man. 

Prompted  b)^  caution,  which  demands  dark- 
ness— 

Pehr. 

By  the  glow  of  contentment's  calm  light — 

Old  Man. 

Wliich  they  stole  from  the  spice  stall,  and 
their  delight  is  in  planning  the  next  expedi- 
tion to  the  city  market.  I  know  it,  do  you 
hear!  And  up  there,  in  the  palace,  where  the 
lights  glisten  by  the  thousands  and  mirror 
themselves  in  the  wines'  sour  streams — there 
they  roll — empty  heads  and  empty  hearts — 
who  say  that  they  think  and  feel  for  the  peo- 
jjle's  welfare!  There  they  roll,  between  bot- 
tles and  dishes — 


30 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

"Why  do  you  talk  so  fast?  Let  me  con- 
tinue— 

Old  Man. 
No !     Away  with  you  and  obey,  boy ! 

Pehr. 

Yes,  away  from  here!  I  want  to  go  out  and 
see  the  world.  I  want  to  see  child-faces — 
even  if  they  can  be  clouded  by  envy's  canker- 
worm!  I  want  to  taste  the  fruit  of  the 
tropics  even  if  it  is  worm-eaten!  I  would 
drink  the  wine  though  it  were  gall,  and  I  want 
to  put  my  ai-m  around  a  maid's  waist,  even  if 
a  bankrupt  father  does  sit  at  the  hoartli  stone! 
I  want  silver  and  gold — if  in  the  end  it  is  noth- 
ing but  dross  I 

Old  ]\1an. 
Ilcll-firf!  wlio's  been  licre? 

A     \'olfE, 

Curse  not  Christmas! 


?A 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Wliat  can  this  mean?  It  is  so  strange  here 
to-night — stranger  than  usual.  Father,  look 
at  me!    Why,  that's  not  his  face! 

Old  Man. 

[Kneeling.]  My  son!  Listen  to  your  fa- 
ther— obey  the  old  man,  who  wishes  you  only 
good;  remain  within  these  peaceful  walls! 

Pehr. 
It  is  too  late ! 

Old  Man. 

"What  do  I  see? — that  ring!  who  gave  it  to 
you?     [Tries  to  take  the  ring  from  Pehr.] 

Pehr. 
Who  are  you?     You  are  not  my  father! 

Old  Man. 

Your  guilty,  your  unhappy  father,  who  is 
bound  l>y  the  witchcraft  of  the  Powers!  [Old 
Man  is  transformed  into  a  hig  black  cat.] 

32 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Jesu  Maria,  lielp!  [Bright  rays  dart  out 
from  Virgin's  image;  dock  strikes  twelve.] 

Pehr. 

The  witch!  The  witch!  Away,  unclean 
spirit!  [Cat  vanishes.]  And  now — [opens 
tower  shutters]  for  life!  [Fingers  ring.]  To 
tlie  forest.     [Going  through  window.]     Out! 


CURTAIN. 


33 


ACT  TWO 


ACT  TWO 

Scene  One. 

Snow-clad  luoods;  diagonally  across  stage  is 
an  ice-covered  brook.  Dawn.  Wind  blows 
through  the  trees  as  curtain  rises.    Pehr  on. 

Pehr. 

So  this  is  the  forest,  whither  my  thoughts 
have  so  often  flown  through  the  clear  air,  and 
this  is  the  snow!  Now  I  want  to  throw  snow- 
halls,  as  I've  seen  school  hoys  do.  It  is  sup- 
loosed  to  he  something  uncommonly  amusing. 
\IJe  takes  up  some  snow  and  casts  a  few  snow- 
balls.] 11-111 !  That's  not  so  wonderful!  Once 
again — I  think  it  almost  stujiid. 

l>ut  wliat  is  it  that  plays  up  in  the  tree 
tops?  The  wind —  Ah,  it  sounds  rather  well. 
Zoo,  zoo,  zoo!  But  one  grows  sleepy  if  one 
listens  to  that  long.  Zoo,  zoo,  zoo!  Now  it 
sounds  like  the  gnats  on  a  summer's  evening. 
Strange  hcnv  slioit  everything  is  ouf  Ikmh'  in 
Nature!     The  dullness  in  tlic  tower — that  was 

37 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


long!  Kow  it's  not  at  all  pretty  or  amusing. 
[Sees  brook.]  Why,  what  is  this?  Ice! 
"What  pleasure  can  one  get  from  that?  Ah, 
now  I  remember — one  can  skate  on  it.  I.  must 
try  that !  [He  goes  out  on  the  brook;  slides; 
ice  cracks;  he  falls  from  fright  and  lies  there, 
stunned.'] 

[Enter  Lisa.] 

Lisa. 

[Runs  up  to  Pehr.]  There  he  is!  Ah — he 
sleeps !  [Sees  something  that  glitters.]  What 
is  that?  [Picks  up  ring,  which  Pehr  dropped 
when  he  fell.]  A  ring!  He  is  sleeping  in  the 
snow!  What  can  have  happened?  He  is 
hurt!  AVhat  can  I  do?  In  the  very  heart  of 
the  forest  and  right  in  the  snow!  Not  a  hu- 
man being  comes  this  way.  He'll  freeze  to 
death  if  he  cannot  get  away.  The  good  fairy 
sent  mo  here  to  look  up  that  boy,  but  she  did 
not  tell  me  that  I  should  find  him  half  dead  in 
a  snow  drift !  If  only  it  were  summer,  with  the 
sun  shining  on  the  green  grass-carpet — 

[Lisa  fingers  ring.   Trausformnfion:  Land- 
scape is  changed  from  winter  into  summer; 

38 


LUCKY  PEHR 


brook  loses  ice-cake  and  rims  forth  between 
the  stones;  sun  shines  on  the  ichole.} 

Lisa. 

"Wliat  can  be  the  meaning  of  this!  [Amazed, 
glances  in  all  directions.     Pehr  awakens.} 

Pehr. 

[Rubbing  his  eyes.]  Why,  what  is  this? — I 
fly  from,  the  church  tower,  come  into  a  forest 
of  snow,  throw  snowballs,  skate,  bump  my  head 
on  the  ice,  lose  my  senses — then  I  wake  up  and 
find  that  it  is  summer!  Have  I  been  lying 
here  under  the  snow  six  months  ?  No,  it  doesn  't 
seem  likely.  [Looks  at  himself  in  the  brook.] 
I'm  as  red  as  a  rose.  [Bends  over  water.] 
But  what  do  I  see  down  in  the  deep — A  blue 
sky,  green  trees,  white  water-lilies,  and  right 
in  their  midst — a  girl ! — just  like  tlie  one  the 
youth  had  his  arm  around  in  ilio  Christmas- 
home:  flowing  hair,  a  mouth  like  a  song,  eyes 
like  the  clove's! — Ah!  she  nods  lo  me — I'm  com- 
ing, I'm  coming!  [About  to  plunge  into  the 
brook,   ivhen   Lisa   gives    a    cry.     He    turns.] 

39 


LUCKY  PRIIR 


There  she  is!    A  moment  ago  she  was  down 
here. 

Lisa. 

So  it  seems,  but  do  not  alwaj^s  believe  your 
eyes. 

Pehr. 

A  strange  world,  this!  But  let  me  see  if  it 
is  the  same  girll  [Stares  at  her.]  Yes,  it  is 
she.  [Starts  to  run  toward  her,  then  catches 
sight  of  ring.]  What!  my  ring?  You  robbed 
me  while  I  lay  senseless!  Oh,  do  not  believe 
your  eyes,  you  said.  No!  for  now  I  have  my 
first  lesson — I  wanted  to  embrace  an  angel,  and 
I  find  a  thief. 

Lisa. 

Do  not  always  believe  your  eyes,  Pehr;  in- 
vestigate before  you  judge. 

Pehr. 

You  are  right.  I  shall  do  so.  Girl,  who  are 
you  ?     ^Miat  is  your  name  ? 

Lisa. 
Lisa  is  my  name,  but  who  I  am  you  must  not 
know  until  the  time  is  fulfilled.     I  came  here 

40 


LUCKY  PEHR 


and  found  you  senseless — on  the  ice  I  found 
your  ring,  the  powers  of  which  I  did  not  know. 

Pehr. 
You  have  saved  me  from  certain  death  in 
the    snow.     For.2:ive   me!     Lisa,   you   shall   go 
with  me  on  my  journey,  and  you  shall  see  a 
jolly  life. 

Lisa. 
You  are  traveling,  you  say — AVhat  is  the  ob- 
ject of  your  journey? 

Pehr. 
I  seek — like  all  the  rest — happiness. 

Lisa. 

You  seek  happiness!  That  is  a  fleeting 
thing. 

Pehr. 

Ah,  say  not  so!  I  can  have  all  that  T  wish 
for.  TTave  we  not  been  given  the  most  de- 
light ful  siimmor  in  fho  middle  of  winlor?  See 
how  gloriously  llic  siui  shines  up  in  the  ]Mnos! 
^'oii  Jinist  know  that  ;ill  this  is  new  to  me.  Oh, 
look!  [Picks  lip  a  few  spruce-cones.]  Wliat 
are  these? 

41 


LUCKY  PEITR 


Lisa. 
The  fruit  of  the  trees. 

Pehr. 
Then  it  is  good  to  eat. 

Lisa. 

No ;  but  children  play  with  it. 

Pehr. 
Play — that   I   have   never   done!     Shall  we 
play,  Lisa? 

Lisa. 
Yes — but  what?     Shall  we  play  a  game  of 
tag? 

Pehk. 
How  does  it  go? 

Lisa. 

Watch  me!     [She   runs   behind  a   tree  and 
throws  cones  at  Pehr.^     Now  catch  me! 

Pehr. 
[Rmining    after    her.]     But    that's    not    so 
easily  done!     [Steps  on  a  cone  and  hurts  his 
foot.]     The  damned  spruce  apples! 

42 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Lisa. 

Mustn't  curse  the  fruit  of  the  trees! 

Pehr. 

One  can  do  without  such  fruit !  I  prefer  the 
kind  I  saw  on  a  Christmas-tree.  If  this  spruce 
could  hear  such  fruit,  then —  [^Instantly 
spruce  hears  oranges.]  Look,  look!  Let  us 
taste.     [They  pick  fruit  and  eat.'\ 

Lisa. 
Well,  what  think  you? 

Pehr. 

Oh!  it's  rather  good — but  not  quite  what  I 
had  fancied. 

Lisa. 
So  it  is  always — all  through  life. 

Pehb. 

My  dear  girl,  how  wise  you  arc!  Lisa,  may 
I  i)ut  my  arm  aroun<l  your  waist?  [A  bird  in 
the  tree  begins  to  sing  softly.] 

TilSA. 

Yes;  but  what  for? 

43 


LUCKY  PFJTR 


Pehr. 

May  I  kiss  you  also? 

Lisa. 

Yes — there's  no  harm  in  that,  surely.     [Bird 
sings  louder.^ 

Pehr. 

I'm  so  warm  after  the  play,  Lisa!     Shall  we 
hathe  in  the  brook? 

Lisa. 
[Cov&rs  her  eyes  ivith  her  hands.]     Bathe! 

Pehr. 
[Throivs  off  coat.]     Yes! 

Lisa. 

[Hides  behind  a  tree]     No,  no,  no!     [Bird 
sings.] 

Pehr. 
Who  is  that  screech-owl  up  in  the  tree? 

Lisa. 

It  is  a  bird  that  sings. 

44 


LUCKY  PEim 


Pehr. 
What  does  he  sing  about? 

Lisa. 

Hush !  I  understand  bird  langTiage ;  that  my 
godmother  taught  me. 

Pehr. 

It  will  bo  fun  hearing  about  it!  iBird 
sings.] 

Lisa. 

"Not  so,  not  so!"  he  said  just  then.  [Bird 
sings  again.]  Pehr,  do  you  know  what  he  said 
then? 

Pehr. 
No. 

Lisa. 
"Live  .^niiltless!     ^^Fino  oyo  sooth  thee." 

Pkiiu. 
(luiltloss— what  is  that? 

Lisa. 

I  don't  know — but  dress  yourself! 

45 


LUCKY  VKUn 


Pehr. 
It's  only  nonsense;  tliere's  no  one  here  to 
see  us.     [Cuckoo  calls.]     Cuckoo!     Cuckoo! 

Pehr. 
"Wliat  is  that  rogue  calling? 

Lisa. 

[Imitates  cncJioo.']     Cuckoo,  cuckoo! 

Peiir. 

Wliat  a  lot  of  tiresome  formalities  there  has 
got  to  be ! 

Lisa. 

Can  you  not  enjoy  the  great,  innocent  pleas- 
ures of  Nature? 

Pehr. 

Yes,  for  a  little  while —  What  was  that? 
[Tears  off  vest.] 

Lisa. 
An  ant. 

Pehr. 

[Beats  right  and  left  ivith  his  hat.]  Only 
look  at  all  the  horrid  pests!  Ouch!  what  was 
it  that  stung  me?    A  mosquito! 

46 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lisa. 

Everything  here  in  life  is  incomplete,  Pehr. 
Eemember  that,  and  take  the  bad  with  the  good. 

Pehr. 

Deuce  take  the  bad!  I  want  the  good. 
[Beats  at  the  air.'\  Now  I'm  tired  of  the  for- 
est. Surely  one  cannot  play  all  one's  life!  I 
yearn  for  activity,  and  want  to  be  among  peo- 
ple. Tell  me,  Lisa — you,  who  are  such  a  wise 
little  creature,  what  do  people  value  most?  For 
that  I  shall  procure  for  myself. 

Lisa. 

Pehr,  before  I  answer  you,  listen  to  a  sen- 
sible  word!     People   will   cause   you    just   as 
much  annoyance  as  the  mosquitoes  do,  but  they 
will  not  give  you  the  delight  to  be  found  in  Na 
ture's  i^ereunial  youth. 

Pehr. 

Nature! — Oh,  yes,  it  is  very  pretty  when 
seen  from  a  church  tower,  but  it  becomes 
rather  monotonous  Tiear  to.  Doesn't  every- 
thing stand  still?     Don't  the  trees  stand  in  the 

47 


TAJCKY  PETTR 


selfsame  jolaces  where  they  stood  fifty  years 
ago,  and  won't  tliey  be  standing  there  fifty 
years  hence?  My  eyes  are  already  weary  of 
this  splendor!  I  want  movement  and  noise, 
and  if  the  people  are  like  mosquitoes,  it  will  be 
so  much  easier  to  keep  them  at  a  distance  than 
this  company.  [Beats  about  his  head  luith  his 
hat.} 

Lisa. 

You'll   see,   no   doubt,   you'll    see!     Experi- 
ence will  teach  you  better  than  my  word. 

Pehr. 

And  now,  Lisa,  what  do  people  value  most 
in  a  person? 

Lisa. 
I'm  ashamed  to  say  it. 

Pehr. 
You  must  tell  me! 

Lisa. 
Gold. 

48 


LUCKY  PEER 


Pehr. 

Gold?  But  that  is  something  outside  the 
person  which  does  not  belong  to  his  being. 

Lisa. 
Yes,  that  is  known;  but  it  is  so  nevertheless. 

Pehr. 

What  oxtraordinaiy  qualities  does  gold  pos- 
sess? 

Lisa. 

All!  It  is  good  for  everything — and  noth- 
ing. It  gives  all  that  earth  has  to  offer;  in 
itself  it  is  the  most  perfect  of  all  the  earth's 
products  whicli  iiist  cannot  spot — but  which 
can  put  rust-spots  into  souls. 

Pehr. 
Well,  then!     AVill  you  follow  mo,  Lisa? 

Lisa. 
I  will  always  follow  you — at  a  distance. 

Pi;iii{. 
At  a  distance!  iind  why  not  nonr  mo?     Tjisn, 
now   1   shall   jiut   my  ann   around  your  waist 

49 


LUCKY  PETTB 


again.     [Lisa  tears  herself  away;  bird  sings.] 
Why  do  you  run  away? 

Lisa. 

Ask  the  bird! 

Pehr. 

I  can't  understand  what  he  says;  you  must 
tell  me. 

Lisa. 

lEmharrassed.]     No,  I  cannot! 

Pehr. 
Cannot?     What  is  it? 

Lisa. 

He  is  not  singing  for  us  now.  He  sings  to 
his  sweetheart,  so  you  must  know  what  he  is 
saying. 

Pehr. 

How  should  I  know  that ! 

Lisa. 

He  says  like  this:  [Running  off]  '*I  love 
you,  I  love  you!" 

50 


LUCKY  PEim 


Pehr. 

Stay!  Shall  you  run  away  from  me?  Lisa! 
Lisa!  She's  gone!  Very  well  then!  Come 
hither  palace  and  plates  and  wines  and  horses 
and  chariots  and  gold — gold ! 

Scene  Two. 

A  luxurious  Banquet  Ball.  Servants  bring  on 
a  table,  ivith  food  and  wines;  other  servants 
carry  in  a  chest  containing  gold;  others, 
again,  a  table  covered  with  plates,  vases,  can- 
dle-sticks, etc. — all  of  gold. 

Pehr. 

[Walks  about  and  looks  around.]  So  this  is 
the  rich  man's  ahodo !  Well,  it  looks  rather 
promising.  Slaves!  Give  me  my  best  holi- 
day-coat— hut  it  must  1)0  of  gold.  \Servants 
hand  him  a  gold-cloth  coat."]  A  chaii'!  {'I'hrg 
place  a  gold  chair  at  lahJc.]  Xow,  Pehr,  you 
shall  enjoy  life!  and  that  is  your  right. 
TTavon't  you  hoon  up  momimrs  at  four  o'clock, 
and  luiiu'  for  early  Mass;  haven't  you  swept 
tli(!  church  on  Friflays  and  scoiirccl  jlic  sl:iirs 
on   Saturdavs;   haven't    von   eaten    bread    .nul 

51 


LUCKY  PETIR 


herring'  three  liimdred  and  sixty-five  days  in 
the  year  and  rinsed  them  down  with  cohl 
water;  haven't  you  slept  on  pease-l)olt  wliieli 
was  so  badly  threshed  that  you  could  feel  the 
pease  in  your  knee-joints?  Oh,  yes,  you  have 
— therefore  enjoy  yourself!  [Wants  to  sit  at 
table.] 

Butler. 

[With  staff  in  hand.']     Pardon,  Your  Grace! 
The  table  is  not  laid. 

Pehr. 
Isn't  it? 

Butler. 
In  a  couple  of  hours  the  roasts  will  be  ready. 

Pehr. 
I  don't  want  any  roasts. 

Butler. 

[Intercepts  Pehr  with  staff.]     It  can  never 
be  that  one  sits  down  at  an  unlaid  table ! 


52 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 
"Who  forbids  me  in  my  own  liouse? 

Butler. 

Etiquette,  Your  Grace,  does  not  under  any 
circumstances  permit  it. 

Pehr. 
Etiquette!     What  kind  of  torment  is  that? 

Butler. 

Your  Grace,  listen  to  an  old  man's  word! 
He  who  in  Your  Grace's  position  violates  the 
rules  of  etiquette  is  lost. 

Pehr. 

[Frightened.]  Wliat  a  harsh  gentleman!  I 
shall  have  to  submit,  although  I'm  beastly  hun- 
gry—  P)ut,  wait!  Is  there  nothing  that  will 
move  that  gentleman?  I  have  heard  that 
gold —  [Cioes  over  !<>  chcsl  (ind  fdkes  out  a 
handful  of  (j(dd  coins.\     AVould  not — 

Buti>er. 

Your  (Iracc!  1  stand  above  llic  scrxMiiis ; 
above  nic  stands  Yonr  Grace,  biil  above  us  all 

53 


LUCKY  PETTR 


stands — Conventionality.  Its  laws  are  per- 
petual, for  tliey  have  their  foundation  both  in 
common  sense  and  in  what  we  call  historical 
hypotheses. 

Pehr. 

And  the  historical  hypotheses — cannot  they 
be  reached  with  gold? 

Butler. 
They  are  non-corruptible — in  this  instance ! 

Pehr. 

Wliat's  the  good  of  all  my  wealth  if  I  cannot 
eat  my  fill  when  I'm  hungry?  I  am  worse  off 
than  the  poorest  bellringer. 

[Butler  stations  himself  at  the  table,  and 
stands  like  a  statue.'] 

[Eiiter  Tax  Assessor  and  assistants,  who 
walk  ahout  and  take  an  inventory.] 

Pehr. 
Look — here's    a    new    torture!     With    what 
shall  you  gentlemen  pester  an  innocent  victim? 

Tax  Assessor. 

Taxation,  Your  Grace. 

54 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Indeed!  So  it  is  you  who  regulate  people's 
worth.  How  high  is  a  human  being  estimated 
these  days? 

Tax  Assessor. 

Two  per  hundred,  Your  Grace; — all  depends 
on  what  one  is  good  for. 

Pehr. 

Tell  me,  can't  I  withdraw  while  the  gentle- 
men figure  up?  for  I  am  both  hungry  and 
thirsty. 

Tax  Assessor. 

Impossible!  It  must  be  done  in  the  owner's 
presence. 

Pehr. 

O  Lord,  what  trials!  P>nt  I  may  ho  allowed 
to  sit  down  at  least? 

Tax  Assessor. 

As  you  please!  \To  assistants.]  Two 
dozen  plates  with  beveled  edges — write!  Six 
wine-coolers,  willi  handles  of  ("nier  iiielnl  — 
write!     One   sugar    howl,    with    sifting   spoon, 

55 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


and  two  smaller  ditto — write!  Two  dozen 
knives,  with  handles  of  mother-of-pearl — 
brand  new — write! 

Pehr. 
See  if  I  don't  go  crazy! 

Tax  Assessor. 

Dining  table   of   oak,   with  double   leaves — 
write!     Six  walnut  chairs. 
[Enter  Laivyer.'] 

Pehr. 
One  more! 

Lawyer. 

Your  Grace  is  summoned  to  the  City  Court 
to  have  tax  No.  2867  legalized  before  twelve 
o'clock  this  day. 

Pehr. 

The  Court?  Litigation?  I  never  institute 
proceedings,  sir! 

Lawyer. 

It's  not  a  question  of  litigation — only  to 
verify  facts. 

56 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 
I  don 't  wish  to  verify  facts. 

Lawyer. 
But  to  put  the  case — 

Pehr. 

I  don 't  want  to  put  the  case — I  want  my  din- 
ner! Butler,  can't  I  take  a  sandwich?  [But- 
ler raises  staff  threateningly;  enter  petty  con- 
stable.'] 

Pehr. 
Are  there  still  more? 

Petty  Constable. 

Your  Grace  is  summoned  to  the  Bar  to-mor- 
row at  eleven  o'clock  for  neglecting  to  keep  the 
street  clean. 

Pehr, 

Must  T  keep  the  street  clean — 1,  who  am  such 
a  rich  man!     What,  then,  must  I  not  do? 

Petty  Constable. 

Tt  is  tlif  duty  of  every  householder  to  keep 
clean  in  front  of  liis  own  lionse. 

57 


LUCKY  PP^TTR 


Pehr. 

Etiquette,  taxation,  pnt  the  case,  keep  yard 
and  street  clean,  hunger  and  thirst — is  that  the 
rich  man's  lot!  Then  I  would  rather  he  a 
street  sweeper  and  own  myself.  And  I'm  not 
allowed  to  turn  these  gentlemen  out,  who  crowd 
into  my  room,  and  I  cannot  go  my  way  when  I 
choose ! 

[Enter  petitioner,  folloiced  hy  a  servant 

carrying  two  baskets  of  papers. '\ 

Pehr. 

Mr.  Lawyer  and  Mr.  Constable,  can't  the 
law  protect  an  unfortunate  rich  man  so  that  he 
may  have  peace  in  his  home,  or  is  the  law  only 
for  the  poor? 

Lawyer. 

Your  Grace  can  no  longer  be  regarded  as  an 
individual;  for  when  one  through  riches  has 
risen  to  the  community's  heights,  one  belongs 
to  the  whole. 

Pehr. 
And  so  one  is  placed  outside  the  law. 

58 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lawyer. 

[Smiles;    glances    about.]     Above    the    law, 
Your  Grace! 

Pehr. 

Ha — !    "U^liat   does    this   last   friend   want! 
Are  there  any  presents  in  those  baskets? 

Petitioner. 
Your  Honorable  Grace  is  appointed  Church 
"Warden — 

Pehr. 
[Interrupts.]     Called — 

Petitioner. 
Called  to  vote  day  after  to-morrow. 

Pehr. 
Eleven  o'clock — 

Petitioner. 
Eleven  o'clock — to  be  present  at  the  election 
of  the  new  Hector.  But  before  that,  Your 
Grace  must  take  pait  in  ilie  preliminaries 
which  arc  here  inclosed,  and  wlilcli  are  for  the 
puri)ose  of  s]iowiii<j^  tlie  incompetence  of  the 
oi)posin^  candidate  for  the  oflice. 

59 


LUCKY  PEITR 


Pehr. 

Must  I  read  tlirongli  two  baskets  full  of 
papers  between  now  and  day  after  to-morrow? 
No,  no ! 

Petitioner. 

Perhaps  Your  Grace  would  like  to  give  your 
vote  to  our  candidate — 

Pehr. 

Without  having  to  read — is  that  permissi- 
ble? Thank  you,  my  good  friend!  Pen  and 
ink! 

Petitioner. 

[Hands  Pehr  pen,  ink  and  paper  for  signa- 
ture.}    Admirable!     I  thank  Your  Grace. 

Pehr. 

[Embracing  him.]  Ah,  it  is  I  that  must 
thank  you! 

Butler. 

[Raps  on  table  three  times  tcith  staff;  serv- 
ants enter  ivith  dishes.]  Dinner  is  served. 
[All  go  except  Pehr  and  butler.] 

60 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 
[Sits  down  at  table.']     At  last!     [Soft  mu- 
sic]    See,  now  tliey  go  when  he  commands; 
but  when  I  beg,  it's  useless! 

Butler. 

It  is  not  my  command  they  obey,  Your  Grace, 
but  the  rules  of  etiquette. 

Pehr. 

And  they  transcend  my  will? 

Butler. 

Laws  are  the  agreements  of  many,  and  must 
of  course  come  before  the  individual's  will. 

Pehr. 
I  declare,  he  can  answer  all  things!  Now  I 
shall  enjoy  myself  at  all  events.  AViue  warms 
the  heart,  food  warms  the  body — but  where 's 
the  pleasure  in  loneliness?  Mr.  Butler,  do  the 
rules  of  etiquette  permit  that  one  has  company 
when  one  is  enjoying  oneself? 

Butler. 

I  almost  believe  lliat  soiiielliing  in  that  way 
is  required. 

Gl 


T.UCKY  PETTR 


Pehr. 
Well,  then,  I  want — 

[First    Friend    enters    and    rushes    into 
Pehr's  arms.] 

First  Friend. 
Friend  of  my  heart!  So  I  see  thee  again 
after  such  a  long  separation!  And  yon  are 
like  yourself— a  little  thinner  than  when  I  last 
saw  you;  but  how's  everything  now,  dear  old 
chap? 

Pehr. 

[Eyeing    him.]     Oh,    thanks,  thanks — very 

well  indeed,  as — ahem — you  see.  Pray  take  a 
chair  and  sit  down. 

First  Friend. 
Why,  bless  my  soul!     I've  just  had  dinner, 
but  I'll  go  into  your  ante-room  and  wait  there 
while  you  finish  yours. 

Pehr. 
No,  that  is  just  what  you  shall  not  do!     I 
remarked  a  while  ago  that  I  thought  life  so 
empty  when  one  must  sit  alone  at  table.     Take 
a  chair  and  sit  down. 

62 


LUCKY  PEHR 


First  Friend. 

Dear  old  friend,  if  you  insist  I  will  sit  be- 
side you  while  you  dine;  but  it  actually  looks 
as  though  I  had  come  here  for  a  meal. 

Pehr. 
AMiat  matter  even  if  it  were  so. 

First  Friend. 
[Protests.]     Oh—! 

Pehr. 
Wait  a  bit — I  'm  not  saying  that  it  is  so ! 

First  Friend. 

[Seats  himself.]  So  now  you  are  in  clover, 
as  they  say.  It  is  pleasant  to  contemplate  that 
fate  can  be  so  kindly,  and  it  must  ever  rejoice 
a  sensitive  soul  to  see  that  some  one  is  favored 
by  fickle  fortune.  Not  all — more's  the  pity! — 
can  praise  fickle  fortune. 

Pehr. 
Indeed!     Have  you  any  grievances? 

First  Friend. 
I? 

63 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Yes — for  I  don't  want  to  hear  any  hard-luck 
stories  now,  when  I'm  eating.  Won't  you  be 
good  enough  to  favor  me  by  trying  a  hazel- 
grouse  ? 

First  Friend. 

If  5'ou  speak  of  favors,  my  friend ! 

Pehr. 

Then  you  mustn't  say  "my  friend";  you 
must  call  me  by  name. 

First  Friend. 

Christopher!  You  ask  a  service  of  poor  me 
— can  I  then  deny  you !  [He  begins  to  eat,  his 
appetite  increases  during  following  repartee. 
Pehr  regards  him  ivith  open-eyed  wonder.'] 

Pehr. 
One  should  never  deny  another  anything? 

First  Friend. 

Well  said!     One  should  never  deny  oneself 
anything — one  another,  I  mean. 
[Enter  Second  Friend.] 

64 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Second  Friend. 
[Walking  straight  up  to  the  table.]  Good 
day,  Goran!  Do  you  remember  me!  [Pehr 
stares  at  him.]  No  you  don't,  but  I  remember 
you.  You  see,  I  never  forget  my  old  friends! 
In  tlie  hour  of  need  I  look  them  up.  Here  you 
sit  and  eat  and  I  have  nothing  to  eat,  therefore 
I  say  right  out :  Boy,  here  am  I !  [Seats  him- 
self at  table.] 

First  Friend. 
[To  Pehr.]     Who  is  that  tramp!    He  eats 
as  though  he  had  not  seen  food  from  Christ- 
mas to  Easter  I 

Pehr. 
Oh,  he's  a  friend  of  mine. 

Second  Friend. 
[To  Pehr.]     AVho  is  that  beggar?     He  stuffs 
himself  like  a.  wolf  in  tlie  springtime! 

Pehr. 
Oil,  he  is  a  good  friend  of  iiiiiic 

First  Friknd. 
[To  PiJir.]     Beware  false  friends,  Pehr! 

65 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Second  Friend. 
[To  Pehr.]     Beware  false  friends,  Pelir! 

Pehr. 
Yes,  yes ! 

First  Friend. 

[To  Pehr.]  You'll  see,  lie  is  going  to  bor- 
row money  from  you. 

Second  Friend. 

[To  Pehr.]  If  lie  asks  for  a  loan  from  you, 
you  must  say  no — for  he  never  pays. 

Pehr. 

You  don't  say  so!  Well,  good  friends,  don't 
you  think  this  an  excellent  repast? 

Second  Friend. 
I  never  flatter ! 

First  Friend. 

No,  my  friend,  you  only  stuff  yourself!  I 
never  flatter,  either,  but  I  cannot  therefore 
mask  the  truth  and  must  acknowledge  that  any- 
thing of  this  sort  I  have  never  before  had  a 
share  in,  and  it  has  to  be  Christopher  that  of- 

66 


LUCKY  PEHR 


fers  such  a  treat!     Your  healtli,  brother  Chris- 
topher ! 

Pehr, 

[Aghast.]     Christopher? 

Second  Friend. 

I'm  a  plain,  everyday  sort  of  man,  and  can- 
not make  pretty  speeches — which  I  scorn,  and 
the  expression  of  which  from  sucli  a  source  I 
can  ascribe  only  to  a  secret  desire  to  get 
money.     That  is  my  plain,  everyday  opinion. 

First  Friend. 
What  insolence ! 

Pehr. 

I  must  beg  that  no  serious  discussions  inter- 
rupt this  delightful  gathering,  which  would  bo 
even  more  agreeable  if  it  were  sweetened  hy 
some  channing  representative  of  the  opposite 
sex. 

[A  Wownn  appears.] 

Pehr. 
Pohold! 


67 


LUCKY  PETIH 


Woman. 

So  you  couldn't  wait  for  me!  That  was 
most  impolite,  but  I  forgive  you  since  you  are 
my  friend.     There 's  my  hand ! 

Pehr. 

[Kisses  Jier  hand.]  I  beg  a  thousand  par- 
dons, my  beauty,  but  I  must  have  been  mis- 
taken as  to  the  day?  Meanwhile,  be  seated. 
Will  my  friends  make  room  at  my  side? 
[Friends  croivd  nearer  to  him.]  No?  Well, 
he  who  is  the  younger  must  do  so.  That  per- 
haps you  do  not  know?  Then  he  who  is  my 
best  friend  will  voluntarily  give  up  his  place, 
for  he  is  always  just  as  near  to  my  heart  any- 
how. [Both  friends  give  up  their  places.]  I 
see  that  you  are  both  my  best  friends. 

Woman. 

And  I  youi*  best  friend  among  women.  Am 
I  not,  Alonzo? 

Pehr. 

Quite  right.  And  now  as  I  raise  the  bum- 
per, I  want  to  drain  it  to  Friendship !  Friend- 
ship is  like  gold,  for  it  is  pure. 

68 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Woman. 
[To  friends.]     How  prettily  lie  speaks ! 

Pehr. 
Friendship  is  like  the  moon — 

Three  Friexds. 
Bravo !     Bravo ! 

Pehr. 

For  it  borrows  its  gold— [Three  Friends 
exchange  glances] — from  the  snn.  And  it 
darkens  when  the  sun  departs;  true,  is  it 
not  I 

All  Three  Friends. 
[SiiUenlg.]     Very  well  said! 

Pehr. 

But  friondshi])  is  a  fire;  it  must  be  fed  if  it 
is  to  be  kept  burnin<!:.  ^'<)u  liavo  ^iven  me  your 
friendshi)),  wliat  linvc  I  to  ,nive  you?  [Three 
friends  glance  around.]  You  look  on  my  i;oUl. 
Alack,  it  is  but  dust  as  compared  with  your 
friendship ! 

69 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Woman. 

[Adroitly.]     One  must  not  despise  the  tern- 
poral  because  the  eternal  exists. 

Friends. 
Admirably  expressed! 

Pehr. 

Very  well,  I  wish  to  reward  your  faith.  See 
— all  this  gold  I  give  you ! 

All  Three  Frii^nds. 
Ah !     [They  upset  the  table.'] 

Pehr. 

But  remember,  I  have  told  you  that  gold  is 
nothing  but  dross.  [Puts  hand  to  mouth  and 
paces  hack  and  forth.]  0  my  God!  I  believe 
I'm  dying! 

Woman. 
AVhat's  wrong  with  you,  Alonzo? 

Pehr. 

I've  got  the  toothache — oh,  my  teeth!  You 
see  that  the  rich  man,  also,  is  exposed  to  the 

70 


LUCKY  PEHR 


annoyances  of  life.     [Friends,  ivith  gold  pieces, 
move  toward  doors.] 

Pehr. 

No,   don't  leave  me   alone   in  my  misery — 
now,  when  I  most  need  your  company  I 

First  Friend. 

Oh,  a  little  toothache  is  not  dangerous ;  it  will 
soon  pass! 

Sf     nd  Friend. 

Take  some  cold  water  in  your  mouth,  then 
you'll  be  all  right. 

Woman. 

Oh,  the  men!     They  arc  so  sensitive  to  a  lit- 
tle pain.     You  should  see  a  woman  suffer! 

Pehr. 
Ah,  don't  forsake  me!     I  suffer  so  terribly! 

First  Friend. 

I  shall  never  forsake  you!     {Hand  on  doorS\ 
I'll  run  for  the  dentist. 

71 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Pehk. 
No,  stay! 

Second  Friend. 

[Near  door.]  No;  as  George's  oldest  friend 
it  devolves  ui^on  me  to — 

Pehe. 

You  want  to  run  away  from  me !  Oh,  I  curse 
this  gold!  I  curse  you,  false  friends!  [Gold 
pieces  in  their  hands  turn  hlack.'\ 

All  Three  Friends. 

He  has  deceived  us — look,  look !  [All  three 
are  stricken  ivith  toothache  and  begin  to  moan.'\ 
Oh!     Oh! 

Pehe. 

[Recovered.]  Oh,  it's  only  a  little  tooth- 
ache; it  will  soon  pass. — Take  cold  water  in 
your  mouth,  old  friend,  and  then  it  will  disap- 
pear. [Woman  faints.']  Surely  a  woman  will 
not  faint  for  such  a  little  pain!  [Friends  rush 
out.]  Now  run  to  the  dentist  and  let  him  draw 
all  your  teeth,  foxes!  After  that  you'll  not 
bite  any  more  sheep. 

72 


LUCKY  PEER 


Woman. 

^Coming  to.l  Alfred!  all  have  forsaken 
you;  but  I  shall  remain  with  you. 

Pehr. 

Yes,  but  why  should  you?  I'm  as  poor  as 
the  poorest;  soon  the  tax  collector  will  be  com- 
ing around  for  the  taxes,  and  he'll  seize  every- 
thing. 

Woman. 

[Snuggles  up  to  him.']  Then  I  want  to  be  at 
your  side  to  support  you — [seizes  his  hand 
and  steals  ring  during  following  speeches]  and 
extend  to  you  the  hand — 

Pehr. 
[Duped.]     You!     Can  this  be  true? 

Woman. 
True?     Look  at  nie  ! 

Pkiir. 

All,  f  have  been  told  Hiat  woman  is  more 
faithless  tlian  man — 

73 


LUCKY  PFJTR 


Woman. 

She  is  wiser  than  man  [puts  ring  on],  there- 
fore she  is  called  faithless.  Oh,  let  me  sit,  I'm 
so  unstrung!  [Pehr  leads  her  to  a  chair  by 
the  wall.] 

Pehr. 

Compose  yourself,  my  friend;  I  have  only 


frightened  you. 


Woman. 


Give  me  a  glass  of  wine ;  I  feel  so  faint  after 
all  this  commotion. 

[Pehr  goes  over  to  table;  wall  back  of  the 
chair  opens  and  ivoman  and  chair  disappear. 
Only  the  hand  with  ring  is  seen  as  she  is 
heard  speaking.] 

Ila,  ha — schoolboy!     Learn  from  this  not  to 
trust  a  woman  whom  you  have  tricked! 

[Alone,  Pehr  runs  to  ivindow  and  looks 
out,  as  he  draws  back  his  head,  he  has  the 
ears  of  an  ass.] 


74 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Curses  on  gold,  friendship  and  women! 
Now  I  stand  alone — poor,  deserted — with  a 
pair  of  long  ears  and  without  my  magic  ring! 
Had  I  known  that  life  was  so  utterly  ignoble, 
I  should  have  stayed  at  home  with  the  witch. 
"Where  shall  I  turn  to  now — without  friends, 
without  money,  without  house  and  home? 
Trouble  awaits  me  at  the  door.  Must  I  now, 
in  all  seriousness,  go  out  in  the  world  and  work 
for  the  attainment  of  my  every  wish?  If  only 
I  were  not  so  alone!  Yet,  why  not  as  well  be 
alone,  since  there  is  no  such  thing  as  friend- 
ship, and  everj'thing  is  so  false  and  empty? 
Damnation! 

[Enter  Lisa.] 

Lisa. 
Don't  curse,  Pehr! 

Pf.tir. 

Lisa !  You  do  not  forsake  me,  although  I 
forgot  you  in  my  jjrosperous  days. 

Lisa. 

It  is  in  our  need  that  we  find  our  friends. 

75 


LUCKY  PEITR 


Pehe. 
Friends'?     A  curse  on  friendship! 

Lisa. 

Don't,  Pelir!  There  are  real  friendships  in 
life  as  well  as  false  friends. 

Pehe. 

I  have  now  tried  the  good  things  of  life,  and 
I  found  only  emptiness  and  vanity! 

Lisa. 

You  have  tried  in  your  way — meantime  you 
have  made  the  first  plunge  of  youth,  and  now 
you  shall  be  a  man !  You  have  looked  for  hap- 
piness in  the  wrong  direction.  Don't  you  want 
to  go  out  and  do  good,  enlighten  your  fellow- 
men,  and  be  useful  1  For  your  clear  vision  can 
penetrate  the  perversion  and  crookedness  which 
one  finds  in  life. 

Pehk. 
And  be  a  great  man ! 


76 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lisa. 
Great  or  obscure,  it  is  all  one.    You  shall  be 
useful — you  shall  be  a  reformer  who  leads  hu- 
manity onward  and  upward. 

Pehr. 
Yes,  a  reformer  who  will  be  honored  and 
idolized  by  the  people,  and  whose  name  will  be 
on  everj^one's  lips. 

Lisa. 

Oh,  how  far  you  are  from  the  truth,  Pehr! 
You  seek  greatness  only  for  personal  honor; 
you  shall  have  it  and  you  shall  have  a  new  ex- 
perience. 

Pehr. 
But  how?     My  ring  is  gone! 

Lisa. 
The  qualities  inherent  in  tliat  ring  are  such 
that  it  can  never  be  away  from  its  owner. 

Pehr. 

[Looks  at  his  hand.]  Ah!  Soo,  fboro  it  is! 
Well,  ilicn,  T  want  to  bo  a  greni  man — a  re- 
former; but  you,  Lisa,  must  follow  me. 

77 


LUCKY  PEER 


Lisa. 

Not  yet.  But  I  will  follow  thee  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  when  thou  dost  meet  with  sorrow 
and  need  and  the  sun  of  happiness  is  for  thee 
o'erclouded,  then  I  will  be  near  thee  with  my 
weak  support.  Go  thou  out  into  life,  see  what 
wrongs  are  done  there;  but  when  'midst  filth 
and  mire  thou  hast  seen  how  even  the  flower  of 
beauty  thrives,  tlien  think  on  this:  Life  is 
made  up  of  both  good  and  bad. 


CURTAIN 


78 


ACT  THEEE 


ACT  THKEE 

Scene:  A  public  square.  To  right,  Court- 
house arcade,  above  which  there  is  a  speak- 
ers' cage  ivith  places  for  Burgomaster  and 
Councilmen;  to  left  shoemaker's  house,  with 
shop  luindoiv  and  sign;  outside  a  bench  and 
table,  close  to  them  a  hen-coop  and  ivater- 
tub.  In  the  centre  of  the  square  stands  a 
pillory,  ivith  two  neck-irons  on  chains,  above 
it  a  bronze  figure  tvith  a  switch  in  its  hand; 
to  right  centre,  statue  of  Burgomaster  Hans 
Schulze,  which  leans  toward  a  marble  female 
statue  crowned  ivith  a  laurel  wreath.  Back- 
ground: view  of  city. 
[Pillory  and  Statue.^ 

Pillory. 

[Bows     low     to     statue.']     Good     morning, 
Statue.     Did  you  sleoi)  well  last  night? 

Statue. 

[Nods.^     Good   nioniing,   Pillory.     Did   you 
sleep  well  yourself? 

81 


LUCKY  PETTR 


Pillory. 

To  bo  sure  I  did — and  dreamed  also!  Can 
you  guess  what  I  dreamed? 

Statue. 
[Crustily.]     How  should  that  be  possible? 

Pillory. 

Well,  I  dreamt — can  you  imagine  it? — that  a 
reformer  came  to  the  city. 

Statue. 

What — a  reforaier?  [Stamps.']  Hell!  how 
cold  your  feet  get  standing  here ;  but  what  does 
one  not  do  for  glory's  sake!  A  reformer? 
Then  he,  too,  is  to  have  a  statue? 

PiLLOKY. 

A  statue — well,  hardly!  No,  he  had  to  play 
statue  himself,  at  my  feet,  while  I  clasped  him 
around  the  neck  with  both  arms.  [Neck-irons 
clash.]  You  see,  he  was  a  real  reformer,  and 
not  a  charlatan,  such  as  you  were  in  life ! 

Statue, 

Oh,  bosh!     You  should  be  put  to  shame! 

82 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pillory. 
I  should — but  I  always  have  justice  on  my 
side.     [Swings  sicitch.'] 

Statue. 
"What,  then,  was  his  specialty? 

Pillory. 
He  was  a  reformer  in  street  paving. 

Statue. 
In  street  paving?     Pestilence  and  cowardice! 
He  dabbles,  then,  in  my  profession.     [Bumps 
into  female  statue.'\ 

Pillory. 
No;  he  does  intelligently  what  you  dabbled 
in,  and  you  wouldn't  be  standing  where  you 
are  had  you  not  been  the  burgomaster's  father- 
in-law  ! 

Statue. 
Was  not  T  tlic  one  wlio  carried  out  llie  new 
idea  of  slone-j)aved  streets! 

rii.i.oKv. 

Yes,  tbat  you  did;  biif  tlu'  idcn  was  Dot  tu>w. 
And  what   did   you   do?      hi   i)Iacc  of  llic  soft 

83 


LUCKY  PEHR 


sand  in  wliicli  one  formerly  placed  one's  feet, 
one  must  now  balance  oneself  on  jagged  and 
roily  stones,  which  destroy  both  feet  and  shoes 
— save  on  the  street  which  leads  from  your 
house  to  the  tavern,  where  you  let  lay  a  foot- 
bridge of  flat  stones. 

Statue. 

And  now  this  reformer — or  charlatan — 
wants  to  undo  what  I  did? 

Pillory. 

He  wants  to  tear  up  what  you  laid  down  and 
pave  all  the  streets  with  ''burgomaster"  stones, 
so  that  all  may  be  equally  comfortable. 

Statue. 
So  he's  a  rabid  radical! 

Pillory. 

Yes,  that's  it,  and  he  has  no  party  politics 
back  of  him.  You  had  the  wagonmaker,  the 
shoemaker,  the  cliiropodist  and  the  burgomas- 
ter with  you,  therefore  you  succeeded. 


84 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Statue. 

He'd  better  be  careful!  Every  stone  whicli 
he  removes  from  my  work  the  people  will  hurl 
at  him,  and  woe  be  unto  him  if  he  touches  my 
memory ! 

Pillory. 

Let  us  hope  that  he  unmasks  you,  you  old 
fraud!  Do  you  recall  how  you  happened  to 
become  one  of  the  great  ones  after  your  death? 
First,  at  the  funeral,  the  parson  embroidered 
your  virtues — for  twenty  marks;  the  contract- 
or, who  had  grown  rich  on  your  streets,  de- 
livered a  eulog}';  the  chiropodist,  who  acquired 
practice  through  your  beautiful  street  stones, 
had  a  medallion  struck  of  you;  then  the 
wagonmakor,  who  made  money  patching  up 
wagons,  named  a  vehicle  after  you;  and  last, 
the  shoemaker  held  a  memorial  fest  in  your 
honor.  Tlioii  i1  was  done!  Your  son-in-law, 
llic  ])urgoniaster,  sent  out  a  subscription  blank 
for  a  statue — no  one  dared  refuse,  and  now  you 
stand  tbere. 


85 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Statue. 

Yes,  I  do,  and  it  grieves  you.  To-day  the 
Sclmlze  Society  will  come  with  wreaths  and 
will  sing  the  memorial  song  ordered  by  my  son- 
in-law.  I  daresay  having  to  stand  and  listen 
to  it  will  make  you  writhe. 

Pillory. 

I  can't  dispute  that,  but  in  the  end  we  shall 
see  if  I'm  not  a  true  dreamer! 

Statue. 

Hold  your  tongue!  for  here  comes  the  So- 
ciety. 

Pillory. 

I  shall  have  to  hold  my  sides  for  laughter — 
three  persons  constitute  the  whole  Society! 
Last  year  they  were  six.  You're  a  back  num- 
ber, Schulze.  Soon  you'll  see  that  they  will 
move  you  into  the  ox-grove ! 

Statue. 

A  people  who  reverence  their  great  men  and 
cherish  past  events  can  never  sink  so  low  as  to 
consign  their  statues  to  the  ox-grove. 

86 


LUCKY  PEHR 


[Shoemaker  comes  out  from  his  house  and 
opens  shop  window.'] 

Shoemaker. 

I  believe  there  has  been  rain  in  the  night, 
brother  Schnlze  looks  so  shiny.  If  it  will  only 
be  fair  weather  when  the  singing  society  makes 
its  appearance !  [Shouts  back  into  the  house.] 
Hans! 

Hans. 

[At  luindow.]     Yes,  master. 

Shoemaker. 

Sit  here  by  the  window  with  your  work,  I'm 
going  out  to  fulfil  a  civic  duty. 

Hans. 
Yes,  master. 

Shoemaker. 

If  you  don't  watch  out,  I'll  let  the  strap  do 
a  dance  on  your  back !  Do  you  hear  that, 
knave? 

Hans. 

Yes,  master. 

[Enter  Wdfjonmakcr,  irilk  a  banner.] 

87 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Wagon  MAKEK. 
'Morning,  Shoemaker. 

Shoemaker. 

Good  morning. 

[Enter  Chiropodist,  with  a  laurel  wreath.] 

Chiropodist. 

Good  morning,  good  morning.  Shall  we 
wait  for  the  burgomaster?  I  think  we'd  better 
hurry  along,  it's  preparing  for  more  rain. 

Shoemaker. 

That's  just  what  I  said  to  myself  this  morn- 
ing, therefore  I  was  wise  and  brought  my  rain- 
coat. 

Wagon  MAKER. 

The  people  should  now  assemble  here  and 
form  a  procession,  but  I  don't  see  a  cat !  Shoe- 
maker, didn't  you  tell  the  printer  that  we  were 
to  celebrate  the  Memorial  Festival  to-day? 

Shoemaker. 
^^liy  certainly,  certainly! 

88 


LUCKY  PEER 


Wagon  MAKER. 

"Will  the  gentlemen  please  form  a  semi-circle 
around  the  object's  pedestal — so! 

Chiropodist. 

We  might  begin  with  the  cantata — then  per- 
haps the  people  will  come. 

Wagonmaker. 

I  can't  understand  why  the  burgomaster 
isn't  here?  He  always  treated  us  to  brandy 
other  years. 

Shoemaker. 

If  you  start  the  song  he'll  wake  up,  if  he  has 
overslept  himself.  Tune  up,  gentlemen — do, 
mi,  sol,  do! 

Wagonmaker. 

Then,  I'll  begin — biii  watch  out  for  the  trio 
so  as  to  make  it  a  re^nilai*  oar-splitting  ensem- 
ble! 

[iSolo  Recitative.] 

Hail  in  tliee.  Burgomaster! 
Ilail  to  tliof,  l)enefactor! 
89 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Life  burns  our  deeds  within  its  envious  fire, 
But  mem'r>^,  like  a  phoenix  from  the  pyre, 
Rises  on  stalwart  wing  to  waft  them  higher. 

Shoemaker. 

Well  whistled,  Wagonmaker!  Any  signs  of 
the  grog  yet? 

Wagonmaker. 

Go  on.  Shoemaker!  Now  comes  the  aria;  it 
must  be  rendered  with  feeling.  Then  you  shall 
see  that  the  burgomaster  will  wake  up ! 

Shoemaker. 
[Sings  aria.] 

ARIA. 

The  breath  of  the  rose  and  carnation-bud's  fra- 
grance, 'mongst  wonder-flowers'  fated! 
As  false  at  heart 
As  glitter-wave. 

She  held  toward  him  her  billow}^  hair, 
^\Tiere  all  the  ocean's  freshness  breathes. 
And  lily  so  red  and  lily  so  white 
Confidingly  muse  on  death  and  life. 

90 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Chiropodist. 

That  was  a  rare  strophe!  But  it  doesn't 
seem  to  have  anj^  special  bearing  upon  the  sub- 
ject and  our  present  conditions.  Where  did 
you  get  it? 

Shoemaker. 

Well,  5'ou  see,  I  have  an  apprentice  at  home 
who  is  one  of  your  idealists ;  he  does  things  of 
this  sort  when  he's  free,  on  Sundays. 

Wagonmaker. 

If  I  may  venture  an  opinion,  I  think  it  incon- 
ceivably difficult  to  get  at  the  pith  of  the 
strophe. 

Shoemaker. 

That's  just  the  fine  point,  you  see!  But 
husli — methinks  we  have  the  rain  here.  [Puts 
on  coat.] 

"Wagonmakkr. 

Do  the  gentlemen  iliink  if  worlli  while  to 
stand  here  in  the  rain  and  get  soaked  on  that 
old  duffer's  account? 


91 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Shoemaker. 

But  we  are  paid  to  support  the  song  and  we 
must  at  least  do  llie  trio  before  we  go;  for 
wlien  we  all  pitch  in  together  the  object  itself 
won't  be  able  to  sleep!  The  oration,  on  the 
other  hand,  can  be  given  at  any  time;  besides, 
there  is  too  small  a  public  for  so  big  a  speech. 
We'll  take  the  trio — do,  mi,  sol,  do.  It  is  not  as 
ideal  as  the  aria,  but  it  evinces  greater  famil- 
iarity with  the  specific  conditions.  [Rain  pat- 
ters, wind  iiicreases,] 

Chiropodist. 

Damned  if  I  stand  here  any  longer  and  catch 
cold  for  that  old  charlatan!  Eemuneration? 
Six  marks  each !     One  can  do  without  that. 

Wagonmaker. 
I  think  so,  too. 

Shoemaker. 

Were  you  not  in  on  the  subscription  for  the 
statue,  perhaps?  Were  you  not  there  and 
helped,  with  a  medallion,  to  turn  him  into  a 
great  man? 


92 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Wagoxmakek. 

Well,  we  bad  to,  didn't  we?  otherwise  they 
would  have  downed  iis. 

Shoemaker. 

True — but  it  is  ungrateful  not  to  respect  his 
memory.    I  shall  sing  the  trio  alone. 

Chiropodist. 

Oh,  you  can  do  it — you,  with  your  sou'- 
wester! I'm  going  home  to  breakfast.  [Flhigs 
wreath  on  pedestal,  dashes  hood  of  cloak  over 
head  and  runs  off.l 

Wagonmaker. 

This  is  the  last  time  I'm  going  to  lend  my- 
self to  such  tomfoolery!     Good-bye! 

Shoemaker. 

[Alone.1  And  now  I'm  going  to  the  burgo- 
master's for  ;i  l)i'andy.  Piut  fii-sf,  T  must  de- 
liver ]iiy  s])eecli  io  llic  old  ni;in  on  llie  i)edes- 
1;il;  llicii  my  conscience  will  be  easier.  [Talks 
to  statue.]  You  tliiiik,  you  old  Schulze,  it  is 
for  3'our  sake  tliai  we  sing,  for  your  sake  tliat 
we  speecliii'y;  can't  you  comprehend  tliat  we 

93 


LUCKY  PEER 


do  so  for  our  own  sakes?  We  need  a  big 
man  to  piisli  forward  when  we  turn  out  to  be 
too  little  ourselves.  We  need  your  word  to 
quote,  since  no  one  credits  ours.  Our  little 
town  needed  your  statue  in  order  to  become  a 
great  city;  your  insig-nificant  relatives  needed 
your  statue  to  help  them  get  on  and  find  occu- 
pation in  this  troublesome  world — and  there- 
fore, mark  you,  you  stand  so  high  above  us  all 
— a  figure  for  naught  but  ciphers!  Now  you 
have  heard  a  true  remark,  you  poor  wretch! 
the  first  and  the  last  you'll  hear,  perhaps — 
[Alanned.]  Surely  no  one  has  been  listening 
to  what  I  said!  Ah!  here  comes  the  great 
man's  relative. 

[Enter  Relative.] 

Relative. 
Good  morning,  Shoemaker.     Have  you  heard 
— have  you  heard  of  the  scurrilous  attack? 

Shoemaker. 
What  now?     What's  up,  Herr  Relative? 

Relative. 

A  reformer  has  come  to  tlie  city;  haven't  you 
read  his  broad-sheet? 

94 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Shoemakek. 


No,  no! 


Relative. 
Oh,  it  is  unprecedented — read  for  yourself! 

Shoemaker, 
I'm  too  agitated  to  read;  yon  read  it. 

Relative. 

Then  listen  to  what  the  scoundrel  writes : 
"A  quarter  of  a  century  has  hardly  elapsed 
since  Burgomaster  Schulze  gladdened  this 
community  with  weighty  improvements  as  re- 
gards its  street  paving,  by  giving  us  in  place 
of  the  old  sand-ground  rough  cobble  stones." 
Do  you  hear !     Do  you  hear ! 

Shoemaker. 

Yes,  I  hear.  But  that  was  not  very  alarm- 
ing. 

Relative. 

Not  alarming!  Doesn't  ho  call  lilni  lUirrjo- 
master  Scliulzc?  One  docs  nol  say  Ijiirgomas- 
ter  of  a  dead  man — one  says  Our  Illustrious — 

95 


LUCKY  PETIR 


Does  not  the  wretch  write  about  rough  cob])le 
stones?  Does  he  not  attempt  with  that  to 
undermine  his  worth? 

Shoemakek. 

But  one  cannot  call  it  an  attack,  if  he  says 
that  cobble  stones  are  rough  when  they  are 
rough. 

Relative. 

Of  course  they  are  rough,  but  one  must  not 
say  that  they  are  when  a  great  man  is  respon- 
sible for  them.  Have  a  care,  Master  Shoe- 
maker! I  see  that  you  are  a  sceptic.  Have  a 
care — you  know  the  consequences! 

Shoemaker. 


For   God's   sake,  I'm  no   sceptic!     Haven't 
been  st 
Schulze? 


I  been  standing  here  chanting  odes  to  brother 


Relative. 

Brother!  If  you  were  a  brother  to  him  in 
life,  please  remember  that  all  titles  are  an- 
nulled by  death.  Will  you  admit  that  this  is 
an  attack? 

96 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Shoemakek. 

Of  course  I  will — Have  I  said  anything  to 
the  contrary!  Can  you  prove  that  I  said  any- 
thing to  the  contrary? 

Relative. 

No ;  but  be  careful !  We  hold  Common  Coun- 
cil liere  on  the  square  at  nine  o'clock,  when 
that  reformer  will  speak  for  his  cause.  Do 
YOU  know  what  he  wants? 

Shoemaker. 
No. 

Relatrt:. 

Can  you  imagine  it !  He  wants  to  repave 
all  our  streets  with  flagstones. 

Shoemaker. 
But  tliat's  rather  considerate  of  him. 

Relative. 
[Laughs  ironicdll I/.]  Considerate?  Oh,  very! 
How  will  it  go,  for  exaini)l('  just  to  mention 
your  calling — how  will  it  go  with  the  jirecious 
shoemakiiig  trade  wIkh  the  people  no  longer 
wear  out  any  shoes? 

97 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Shoemaker. 

What — what  say  you?  Forgive  me,  my 
friend,  but  you  are  right.  However,  I'm  not 
thinking  of  my  humble  calling,  but  of  all  the 
poor  innocent  working  men  who  will  be  robbed 
of  their  bread — and  of  their  poor  wives  and 
children ! 

Hans. 

[At  ivindoiv,  makes  faces.']  Poor  unfortu- 
nate workingmen! 

Relative. 

You  see,  you  see !  [Pointing  to  statue.']  He 
was  the  friend  of  the  poor,  and  he  was  a  man 
that  knew  what  he  did! 

Shoemaker. 

You  may  depend  upon  it  that  both  the  wagon- 
maker  and  the  chiropodist  will  share  my  opin- 
ion. 

Relative. 

Am  I  quite  sure  of  that  ? 

Shoemaker. 

In  life  and  in  death ! 

98 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Relative. 

Happy  the  people  who  respect  their  great 
men!     [Rims.'] 

[Enter  populace.  Relative  is  talking  icitli 
the  wagonmaker  and  the  chiropodist.^  [The 
Courthouse  clock  strikes  nine;  two  trum- 
peters and  a  drummer  come  on  and  sound  a 
call.  Whe7i  the  music  has  ceased  Pehr  en- 
ters, and  is  joined  by  Street-Paver.] 

Pehr. 

Good  morning,  master.  How  do  yoii  think 
this  matter  will  go  for  me? 

Steeet-paver 
Badly,  ver>^  badly ! 

Pehr. 
Don't  the  people  want  iniprovementsj  then? 

Street-paver, 

There's  no  question  as  to  tlial  —  it's  a  ques- 
tion of  the  great  man's  rcinitaiion,  which  you 
have  attacked. 

Pkhh. 
Have  T  attacked  liiiii?     [ /k//>/  Jias  ceased.] 

99 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Street-paver. 

You  called  him  burgomaster^  and  that  title 
has  become  a  by-word  in  the  town;  you  said 
that  his  paving  stones  were  rough — in  a  word, 
you  have  expressed  the  common  opinion  of  the 
man,  therefore  you  are  ruined. 

Pehr. 
It's  a  very  remarkable  world  that  we  live  in! 

Street-paver. 

It's  rather  see-saw,  and  has  its  little  eccen- 
tricities, but  do  not  try  to  help  it,  sir,  for  then 
it  will  send  you  straight  to  tophet ! 

Pehr, 

The  people  are  dissatisfied  and  when  one 
wants  to  dig  up  the  cause  of  their  dissatisfac- 
tion, they  throw  stones  at  one !  [A  boy  thrusts 
a  leaflet  into  their  hands,  hurries  along  and  dis- 
tributes more  among  the  populace.'] 

Pehr. 

[Glances  at  leaflet.]  But  this  is  outrageous! 
They  have  sketched  us.  Have  I  a  nose  like 
that? 

100 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Stkeet-paver. 

They  have  hit  us  off  rather  well — but  surely 
I  haven't  such  ears! 

Pehr. 

I  can't  understand  this — Yesterday  the  edi- 
tor was  for  the  cause  and  to-day  he  abuses  me. 

Street -PAVER. 

Public  opinion,  you  see !  He  said  to  me,  also, 
that  he  approved  of  this  movement,  but  that  he 
dared  not  defy  pul3lic  opinion. 

Pehr. 

A  curious  way  of  working  for  his  cause! 
"Who,  then,  is  public  opinion  for  him? 

Street-paver. 

First,  the  customers ;  then  the  burgomaster, 
money,  and  power. 

Pehr. 
Then  why  did  he  caricature  you? 

Street-paver. 
Becaus«^    I    entered    info    yoiii-    proposition. 
As  a  matter  of  course,  1  did  it  because  I  could 

101 

LIB.'?ARY 

UNIVEKSITY  OF  CALIFORNW 

RIVERSIDE 


LUCKY  PEHR 


make  money  by  it.  Meautime,  lie  is  selling  hun- 
dreds of  these  poems  to-day — [Trumpets  and 
drum  sound;  Burgomaster,  Councilmen  and 
Clerks  come  out  into  speakers'  cage.] 

Burgomaster. 

Well,  my  children,  you  nmst  have  heard  that 
an  impostor  has  come  to  town. 

One  of  the  People. 
He's  no  impostor;  he  is  a  reformer. 

Burgomaster. 

It  comes  to  the  same  thing — but  you  must 
hold  your  tongue,  my  lad,  you  have  no  vote ! 

Peiir. 

Herr  Burgomaster,  I  would  beg  that  my 
proposition  be  presented  in  a  proper  manner 
before  this  honored  popular  assembly — 

Burgomaster. 

Just  listen  to  him!  We  know  his  proposi- 
tion and  it  simply  remains  for  us  to  express 
ourselves.  Well  and  good,  I  consign  it  to  the 
madhouse!     It  is  the  man's  wish — think  of  it, 

102 


LUCKY  PEHR 


my  children!  that  all  may  be  permitted  to  tread 
upon  smooth  pavements.  So  long  as  Our  Lord 
creates  different  kinds  of  human  beings,  there 
must  be  different  kinds  of  stones  on  our  streets. 
Is  there  anybody  who  would  add  further  re- 
marks? 

One  of  the  People. 
That  isn't  true!     Our  Lord  does  not  create 
different  kinds  of  human  beings. 

Burgomaster. 
Who  gave  you  permission  to  shriek? 

One  of  the  People. 
Since  we  have  no  voice  in  things,  we  may 
at  least  be  allowed  to  shriek! 

Burgomaster. 
Yos,  shripk,  and  I'll  put  you  in  the  lockup! 
There  is  no  one,  of  course,  wlio  lias  something 
to  add? 

Relative. 

Horr  IJui'gouiastor,  as  a  man  of  honor,  iiuiy 
T  not  be  permitted  to  enter  a  ])rotest  against 
the  scandalous  attack  Hint  has  been  made! 

103 


LUCKY  PFJIR 


Pehe. 
I  cliallenge  the  relative! 

Burgomaster. 

And  I,  on  the  other  hand,  attach  more  weight 
to  the  Relative's  utterance  since  he  is  allied  to 
a  great  man;  that  is  always  the  community's 
best  guarantee — 

Rooster. 

[Froin   hen-coop   outside   the   shoemaker's.] 

Cockelicoo ! 

Burgomaster. 

What's  that  devilish  racket? 

One  of  the  People. 
That 's  one  who  is  blessed  with  a  voice ! 

Rooster. 
Cockelicoo ! 

One  of  the  People. 
Arrest  him!     [Laughter  and  groans."] 

Burgomaster. 
Quiet,  back  there!     Secondly:     Said  adven- 
turer has  spoken  outrageously  of  the  admin- 

104 


LUCKY  PEHR 


istratioii  in  that  he  has  made  defamatory 
speeches  against  the  city's  departed  burgomas- 
ter. We  would  hear  a  few  impartial  citiaens — 
Master  Shoemaker,  what,  in  your  opinion,  does 
he  merit! 

Shoemaker. 
I  vote  with  the  administration. 

Burgomaster. 

Quite  right;  he  should  be  held  in  contempt. 
What  say  you,  Master  Chiropodist? 

Chiropodist. 
I  concur. 

Burgomaster. 
And  the  wagoniiiakor? 

Wagon  MAKER. 

I   have    the   honor   to    agree   with    the    last 
speaker. 

One  of  the  People, 

Those  who  have  tlie  riglit  to  speak  are  si- 
lent. 


105 


LUCKY  PEim 


Burgomaster. 

Silence,  back  there !  On  the  ground  of  what 
has  already  been  advanced,  with  the  support 
of  conclusive  evidence,  the  adventurer  named 
Pelir  (no  family  name)  is  hereby  sentenced 
for  vicious  utterances  against  the  administra- 
tion to  stand  in  the  pillory  two  hours,  later  to 
be  expelled  from  the  city,  to  his  everlasting  dis- 
grace and  as  a  warning  to  others. 

Pehk. 
Herr  Burgomaster,  the  proofs  are  lacking. 

Burgomaster. 

We  require  none.  Axiom,  or  self-evident 
points,  neither  can  nor  need  be  proved.  Away 
with  him!     \Pehr  is  led  off.] 

Burgomaster. 

Thirdly:  In  consideration  of  the  vexatious 
as  well  as  unforeseen  incident  that  the  city's 
dogs  give  unseemly  expression  to  their  inward 
feelings  for  the  hideous  around  the  pedestal 
of  Hans  Schulze's  statue,  an  appropriation  is 
demanded  for  an  iron  railing  around  the  same. 

106 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Surely  no  one  will  refuse  a  deserving  man  such 
a  trifling  act  of  respect? 

Qualified  Voters. 

No! 

OxE  OF  THE  People. 

That  is  the  first  time  we've  heard  the  voters 
say  no! 

Burgomaster. 

Officer,  put  him  in  the  lockup!  The  ques- 
tion has  lieen  answered,  then,  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

Qualified  Voters. 

Yes. 

One  of  the  People. 

[Makes  noise  like  a  sheep.]  B-a-a-a!  [An 
instant  of  laughter  and  comtnotion.] 

Burgomaster. 

The  Common  Council  is  adjourned.  [Triini' 
pets  and  drum  sound,  after  which  silence  on 
stage.l 

107 


LUCKY  PRHR 


Relative. 

[To  Shoemaker.']  He's  an  uncommonly  firm 
expeditor,  that  burgomaster. 

Shoemaker. 

He  ought  to  be  in  the  Legislature — then  it 
would  go  a  little  faster  with  the  common  mo- 
tions. 

[Burgomaster,  Councilmen  and  Secretary 
go  into  Courthouse.  People  continue  to  cir- 
culate on  square;  Street-paver  keeps  aloof.'] 

Shoemaker. 

[To  Chiropodist,  Wagonmaker  and  Relative.] 
Gentlemen,  won't  you  sit  down  and  drink  a 
glass  of  ale  with  me? 

Chiropodist,  Wagonmaker,  Relative. 
Thank  you ! 

Shoemaker. 

[At  door,  gives  order;  Hans  brings  on  ale.] 
Well,  Herr  Relative,  you  did  not  choose  to  be 
present  this  morning  at  the  memorial  fest  for 
vour  illustrious  kinsman? 


108 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Eelative. 

Wliere  was  the  need  of  my  going  out  in  the 
rain?    You  were  there  with  the  Society. 

Shoemaker. 
The  whole  Society !     There  were  three  of  us. 

Relative. 
Did  you  sing? 

Chiropodist. 
Yes,  a  little. 

Relative. 
[Laughing.']     Were  there  many  people? 

"Wagonmakkr. 
Not  a  soul ! 

Relative. 
And  the  burgomaster — 

Shoemaker. 

Overslci)t  liiinsclf. 


109 


LUCKY  PETTR 


Relative. 
[Laugliing.']     Have   you   seen   the   Morning 


Crowf 


No. 


All. 


Relative. 

l^Tahes  up  a  pamphlet,^  Would  you  like  to 
hear,  then? — "Tribute.  The  customary  trib- 
ute paid  by  the  Schulze  Society  to  the  memory 
of  our  worthy  citizen,  wliom  we  commemorate 
in  bronze  on  the  city's  public  square,  took 
place  this  morning  in  presence  of  a  great  crowd 
of  people  that  greeted  the  memorial  songs, 
sung  in  honor  of  the  illustrious  departed,  with 
hearty  applause.  The  songs  were  rendered  by 
the  great  chorus  with  the  usual  precision  and 
good  ensemble.  The  oration,  which  had  been 
prepared  with  the  utmost  care,  was  delivered 
in  clear,  resonant  tones  by  the  worthy  shoe- 
maker, Pumpen-Block.  Among  the  notables 
present  we  observed  the  city's  burgomaster, 
the  kinsman  of  the  departed,  and  others. 
\_All  laugh.] 


110 


?  > 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Relative. 
Isn't  that  rich? 

All. 
Oh,  it's  priceless! — You  wrote  that. 

Relative. 

By  the  by,  have  you  seen  the  cartoon  of  the 
reformer  and  the  street-paver?     It's  capital! 

Shoemaker. 

But  it  was  a  bit  extravagant  to  caricature 
them  in  that  way! 

Relative. 

Oh,  no  sensible  person  has  anything  against 
the  proposition ;  but  that  it  should  fall  into  such 
hands — Ilush,  here  he  comes ! 

[Pehr  is  led  on  by  guards,  ivho  place  him 
in  the  pillory  and  adjust  neck-irons.  The 
populace  nudge  each  other  and  point  at  him. 
Shoemaker's  company  slightly  embarrassed. 
Enter  a  lyre  player  and  an  old  blind  woman, 
with  a  painted  canvas  on  a  pole.  Old  woman 
sings  and  points  at  canvas,  which  is  painted 
in  six  panels — one  for  each  stanza.} 

Ill 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Old  Woman. 

There  was  a  guileless  youth  : 

Who  heard  the  people's  wail; 
Lawgivers  sat  in  the  square 

And  gaily  quaffed  their  ale. 

The  youth  to  the  people  said: 
"I  would  make  your  pathway  fair!" 

''There's  trouble,"  the  rulers  cried, 
"Sedition  breeds  in  the  air." 

Still  they  sat  in  the  square, 
And  still  they  quaflPed  their  ale; 

They  talked  of  the  people's  good. 
But  heard  not  the  people's  wail. 

The  youth  in  the  pillory  stood. 
For  there  he  'd  been  given  his  place ; 

In  the  wag'nmaker's  hen-coop  the  cock  crew 
As  of  yore  in  Caiphas'  palace. 

The  great  respect  the  law, 

Their  own  renown  they  buy 
With  statues  and  tombs  and  gold 

To  praise  them  when  they  die. 

112 


LUCKY  PEHR 


The  people  pass  under  the  yoke, 

They  wail  through  the  vigils  of  night, 

And  wait  till  the  cock  shall  crow 
To  herald  an  era  of  light. 

[Shoemaker's  company  make  wry  faces 
and  pretend  not  to  he  listening;  the  people 
are  interested  and  drop  pennies  into  the  old 
ivoman's  hank.  The  women  are  moved  to 
tears  and  wipe  their  eyes  now  and  then.'] 

Relative. 

[To    shoemaker.]     Have   you    many    orders 
now-a-days  f 

Shoemaker. 
Oh,  so-so — 

Old  Woman. 
Give  the  old  blind  woman  a  coin? 

Chiropodist. 
Begging  is  prohil)it('d,  don't  you  know  that? 

One  of  the  People. 
She's  not  begging;  she  asks  remuneration. 

113 


LUCKY  PETTR 


Shoemaker. 
What  kind  of  rot  is  he  talking? 

One  of  the  People. 

The  Schulze  Society  is  paid  to  sing  for  the 
statue  yonder,  l)ut  the  men  pocket  the  coins  and 
stay  away.  This  morning  only  three  were 
there. 

Shoemaker. 

[To  his  guests.]  Think,  they  know  all  that 
goes  on,  the  villains ! 

Old  Woman. 
Give  the  blind  old  woman  a  coin! 

Eelative. 
One  must  pay,  to  boot,  for  her  croaking? 

One  of  the  People. 

She  sings  better  than  the  shoemaker  sang 
this  morning,  when  we  stood  round  the  corner 
listening  to  him.  He  certainly  does  not  sing 
ideally  about  carnations  and  roses,  but  a  true 
word  spoken  at  the  right  moment  is  also  ideal ! 


114 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Relative. 

If  you  don't  go,  old  hag,  you'll  be  locked  up! 
[Thunder  and  lightning,  wind,  rain,  commo- 
tion.] 

Shoemaker. 

Egad!  it's  raining  again.  Step  inside,  gen- 
tlemen.    [They  break  up.] 

Old  Woman. 

Must  that  poor  wretch  in  the  pillory  stand 
out  in  the  rain? 

Relative. 

If  my  kinsman,  who  is  so  great  a  personage, 
can  stand  outside,  then  that  fellow  may  as  well 
stay  where  he  is. 

Shoemaker. 

It  cools  these  reformers  off  so  nicely  to  get 
a  little  cold  water  over  them.  [Trips,  stubs 
toe  against  a  stone.]  The  damned  cobble 
stones!  [Hops  into  house  on  one  leg.  Exit 
all  but  Pehr  and  Old  Woman — Lisa.] 

Lira. 
[TJiroirs    off    disguise.]     Well,    Pclir!     ^'()U 
have  become  a  famous  man ;  your  name  is  now 

115 


LUCKY  PFJIR 


on  every  one's  lips,  your  picture  is  being  car- 
ried round  on  all  streets  and  public  squares 
and  the  people  hail  you  as  a  reformer.  Are 
you  satisfied? 

Pehr. 

Yes,  Lisa,  now  I  am  satisfied  with  being  a  re- 
former ! 

Lisa. 

Shall  you  leave  your  work  half-done? 

Pehr. 

Yes,  Lord  save  us !    If  only  I  can  escape  with 
my  skin. 

Lisa. 

You  sought  glory  and  renown — 

Pehr. 
But  all  do  that ! 

Lisa. 

Not  all.     But  you  had  the  approval  of  the 
people. 

Pehr. 

The  people !     They  have  nothing  to  say. 

116 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lisa. 

So  it  was  the  approval  of  the  great  that  you 
wanted.  Then  stand  there  and  be  ashamed! 
You  did  not  even  believe  in  the  cause  for  which 
you  stood. 

Pehr. 

Frankly,  I  think  it  a  matter  of  slight  conse- 
quence whether  one  walks  upon  smooth  or 
rough  stones. 

Lisa. 

"\Mien  one  walks  in  calfskin  boots — yes;  but 
not  when  one  goes  barefooted ! 

Pehr. 

Moreover,  the  community  isn't  worth  a 
straw;  the  whole  thing  is  only  a  sham!  The 
common  good,  the  common  good — one  never 
talks  of  anything  else.  AVIiat,  tlien,  is  the  com- 
mon good?  It  strikes  me  as  being  an  agree- 
ment between  a  few  private  individuals. 

Lisa. 

It  should  be  ever^^one's  good,  but  it  isn't. 
Make  it  so,  and  it  will  be  so. 

117 


T.UCKY  PKHR 


Pehr. 

I  want  to — oh,  I  want  to  do  it,  but  I  haven't 
the  power! 

Lisa. 

Then  get  it,  Pehr,  and  let's  see  if  I  have 
made  a  mistake. 

Pehr. 

[Breaks  irons  and  comes  down  stage.]  You 
shall  see,  Lisa,  that  I  will  do  something  big 
when  I  have  the  power. 

Lisa. 

"WHiy  something  big?  Something  good  would 
be  better. 

Pehr. 

But  you  must  always  be  by  my  side,  Lisa. 
What  was  it  that  the  bird  in  the  wood  sang? 

Lisa. 
That  I  will  tell  you  next  time. 

Pehr. 

No,  now ! 

118 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lisa. 

He  said:     *'I  love  you!" 

Pehr. 
AVon't  you  love  me,  Lisa? 

Lisa. 
Yes,  when  you  love  me. 

Pehr. 
But  I  do ! 

Lisa. 

No,  you  do  not;  so  far  you  love  only  your- 
self. Out  again,  Pehr,  and  learn  something! 
There  are  not  many  wishes  left  to  you;  the 
greatest  but  most  dangerous  one  is  ahead  of 
you — Power!  That  is  the  highest  thing  a  frail 
mortal  can  attain.  But  woe  to  him  who  mis 
uses  it!  He  is  the  world's  greatest  criminal, 
for  he  makes  a  caricature  of  Our  Blessed  Lord ! 
Farewell,  King!  thy  crown  awaits  thee!  [Dis- 
appears.] 

Pehr. 
Oh,  my  quoon ! 

curtain. 
119 


ACT  FOUR 


ACT  FOUR 

Scene  One. 

Interior  of  a  palace  in  Oriental  style.  To 
right  a  throne,  before  it  a  table,  tvith  royal 
regalia;  to  left  a  divan,  pillows  arranged  on 
floor  in  a  semi-circle. 

At  rise  of  curtain  The  Ameer  discovered  lying 
on  floor  icriting  on  a  paper  scroll. 

[Enter  Chamberlain  of  the  Caliph.] 

Chamberlain. 

Is    that    the    young    Calipli's    genealogical 
chart  ? 

Ameer. 

Yes,  Cliamberlain. 

Chamberlain. 

It    certainly    looks    very    im])osing.     Whom, 
have  you  given  him  as  progenitor? 

Ameer. 

Caliph  Omar,  of  course. 

123 


LUCKY  PETTR 


Chamberlain. 

I  think  that  Haroun-al-Kaschid  would  have 
been  better. 

Ameer. 

He  was  certainly  more  popular — but  in  that 
case  our  gracious  sovereign  would  not  be  re- 
lated to  the  ancient  house. 

Chamberlain. 

Very  true.  Will  you  be  ready  soon?  We 
expect  him  at  any  moment. 

Ameer. 
Has  your  Excellency  seen  the  new  caliph? 

Chamberlain. 

Yes ;  he  looks  like  all  the  rest — It  is  only  the 
genealogical  tree  that  separates  him  from  us. 

Ameer. 
Yes,  the  genealogical  tree! 


124 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Chamberlain. 

[Examines  ancestral  chart  again.]  You 
have  got  an  awful  widtli  to  it ! 

Ameer. 

I  had  to  put  in  a  bastard  line;  it  looks  so 
flourishing  on  paper,  and  gives  to  the  race 
a  semblance  of  strength,  which  is  always  flat- 
tering. 

Chamberlain. 

[Laughs.]  AVhat  will  the  Caliph  Omar  say 
to  this? 

[Enter  Court  Mullah.] 

Mullah. 
Allah  akliar  barai !     TTow  dost? 

Chamberlain. 
Allah!  Eloim!     1   lliaiik  you,  excellently. 

Mullah. 

Is  the  Renunciation  Act  made  out  in  dupli- 
cate form? 


125 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Chamberlain, 

In  duplicate  form.  Will  you  be  good  enough 
to  compare,  then  he  will  only  have  to  add  his 
signature. 

Mullah. 

If  there 's  time  enough,  it  would  be  the  better 
way. 

[Chamherlain  takes  tivo  papers  from  table 
and  hands  one  to  the  Mullah.']  \ 

Chamberlain. 

[Reads  aloud.]  "We,  Omar  the  twenty- 
seventh,  do  hereby  solemnly  forswear  our — 
the  Roman  Catholic — faith,  and  adopt  the  Mo- 
hammedan doctrine  as  it  is  determined  in  the 
Koran  and  the  sacred  writings." 

Dated,  etc. 

Omar. 
Correct? 

Mullah. 
Correct. 

[Enter  Pehr — Grand  Vizier  and  Royal 
Historian  having  entered  just  before  him. 
Ameer  jumps  up  from  the  floor  with  the  gene- 

126 


LUCKY  PEHR 


alogical  chart;  Royal  Historian  stands  quietly 
and  jots  down  in  a  hook  what  he  hears."] 

Vizier. 

Will  it  please  Your  Highness  to  scan  this 
ancestral  chart,  which  our — and  the  Kingdom's 
Ameer  has  made  of  Your  Highness'  illustrious 
old  family  tree. 

Pehr. 

My  ancestral  chart!  I  have  never  known  of 
any  relative  but  my  father,  the  old  sexton. 

Vizier. 

[Pretends  not  to  hear.]  It  begins  with  a 
great  and  glorious  name — Caliph  Omar — 

Pehr. 
Caliph  Omar!     Wliat  kind  of  fish  is  that? 

Vizier. 

[Sternly.]  Tliat  is  no  fisli.  lie  was  a  great 
and  honorable  ruler. 

Pehr. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  Inil  I  was  l)oni  in  wccUock 
and  not  between  satin  slicots,  good  gentlemen! 

1:^7 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 

It  does  not  become  a  ruler  to  be  selfish;  he 
must  in  all  particulars  sacrifice  his  personal 
interests  and  tastes  for  the  welfare  of  the  peo- 
ple. 

Pehr. 

Very  good;  but  does  the  welfare  of  the  peo- 
ple demand  that  I  shall  be  illegitimate? 

ViZIEE. 

Yes. 

Pehr. 

Then  hand  me  the  paper!  [Ameer  delivers 
ancestral  chart  and  a  pen.]  It  begins  with  a 
lie,  and  will  probably  end  with  theft.     [Signs.] 

Vizier. 

There  remains  a  slight  formality — Will  it 
please  Your  Highness  to  sign  this  paper  also. 
[Mnllali  presents  Renunciation  Act.] 

Pehr. 
What  now? 


128 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 

Your  Highness  need  not  trouble  liimself  to 
read ;  it  is  only  a  matter  of  form. 

Pehr. 

Eenounce  my  forefathers'  Faith — But  that 
is  outrageous! 

Vizier. 

Political    considerations — the    people's    wel- 
fare— 

Pehr. 

T  must  become  a  Mohammedan  and  may  not 
drink  a  glass  of  wine? 

Vtztkr. 
There  are  substitutes  in  all  polities. 

Pehr. 

What  are  tlioy? 

Vizier. 
Compromises,  modifications — 

Pkiiu. 

Circumventions,  eh  ? 

129 


LUCKY  PEim 


Vizier. 
Will  it  please  Your  Highness  to  sign! 

Pehr. 

But  I  shall  despise  myself  if  I  begin  with  a 
low  action,  and  all  the  more  will  the  people 
have  the  right  to  despise  me! 

ViZIEE. 

The  people  demand  that  the  ruler  sacrifice 
all  personal  considerations  for  their  welfare. 

Pehr. 

Their  welfare,  then,  is  to  be  built  upon  a  lie 
and  a  crime? 

Vizier. 

[Goes  toward  windoiv.]  Your  Highness,  the 
people  await  their  chief.  They  are  always 
ready  to  offer  their  sweat  and  blood  for  the 
ruler,  therefore  they  demand,  also,  that  the 
ruler  make  his  sacrifices. 

Pehr. 

Is  what  you  say  true?  Well,  then,  give  it 
me!     [Accepts  paper — hesitates.]     The  belfry, 

130 


LUCKY  PEHR 


the  chimes,  the  singing,  the  lights,  Christmas 
— all  pass  before  mine  eyes !  No  more  Christ- 
mas Eve !  Life  is  so  pitiless ;  it  only  demands, 
but  never  gives  anything ! 

Vizier. 
Your  Highness,  the  people  are  clamoring! 
They  would  see  their  chief  in  the  attire  of  the 
old  caliphs — the  crown  and  sceptre  await  to  be 
borne  anew  by  a  branch  of  the  old  ancestral 
tree. 

Pehr. 
[Catches     sight     of     crown     and     sceptre.] 
Ah !     Vizier,  who  can  command  me  to  forswear 
my  faith? 

Vizier. 
The  laws. 

Pehr. 
"Who  made  tlio  laws? 

Vizier. 
Our  forffatliors. 

Pr.nR. 
They    wor«'    weak    inorials,    like    ourselves. 
Well  and  good,  I'll  make  over  all  the  laws! 

131 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 

The  Caliph  does  not  reconstruct  laws,  for  our 
form  of  administration  has  not  given  him  law- 
making rights. 

Pehr. 

What  is  the  form  of  administration  in  this 
land? 

Vizier. 
Constitutional  Despotism. 

Pehr. 
Answer!    Am  I  Caliph,  or  not? 

Vizier. 

You  will  be  as  soon  as  you  have  aflSxed  your 
signature. 

Pehr. 

Then  hand  me  the  paper!  [Signs.  Enter 
Viziers,  Court  Attendants,  etc.  Crowning 
Cereinony.] 

People. 

[Without.]  Long  live  Omar  the  twenty-sev- 
enth!   Allah,  Allah,  Allah! 

132 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 

Will  it  please  Your  Eoyal  Highness  to  ascend 
the  throne  and  begin  the  reign? 

Pehr. 

That  will  be  quite  diverting.  Admit  the  peo- 
ple! 

Vizier. 

The  people  ?  The  people  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  Government! 

Pehr. 
But  surely  I  shall  have  someone  to  rule  over? 

Vizier. 

That  is  done  in  writing.  [Takes  out  a  few 
documents.] 

Pehr. 
Proceed ! 

Vizier. 

In  order  to  spare  Your  Koyal  Highness  the 
weighty  burdens  of  governmont  on  this,  the 
first  day  of  liis  J'oign,  we  Imvc  tabled  nil  peti- 
tions but  one,  which  can  very  easily  be  dis- 
posed of. 

133 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

That  was  stupid,  but  it  can't  be  helped  now. 
Let's  hear  it! 

Vizier. 

Aschmed  Sheik,  with  face  in  the  dust  and 
with  his  heart's  prayers,  begs  that  he  may  go 
over  to  the  Sunnees'  faith. 

Pehr. 
What  is  the  Sunnees'  faith? 

Vizier. 
It  is  a  sect,  a  dangerous  sect. 

Pehr. 

In  what  particular  does  it  differ  from  the — 
ahem! — true  doctrine? 

Vizier. 

A  true  Moslem  greets  Allah  in  this  manner — 
[crosses  hands  on  hreasf]  but  a  sectarian 
does  like  this —  [Pinches  his  nose  and  pokes 
his  fingers  into  his  ears.] 


134 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

[Laughing.]     Well,  can't  the  man  poke  his 
fingers  in  his  ears? 

Vizier. 
No ;  the  laws  of  the  land  do  not  permit  it. 

Pehr. 
There  is  no  religions  liberty,  then? 

Vizier. 
Yes,  for  the  true  faith. 

Pehr. 
But  for  the  others? 

Vizier. 
There  must  be  no  others ! 

Pehr, 
Then  I  shall  give  them  religions  liberty! 

Vizier. 
That  the  Calipli  can  not  do. 

Pehr. 

"Who  can,  then? 

1.35 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 
The  Government  alone. 

Pehr. 

Wlio  is  the  government? 

[Vizier  and  all  others  present  place  a  fin- 
ger to  mouth.'l 

Pehr. 
A  secrets 

Vizier. 
That  is  the  constitutional  despotism's  secret. 

Pehr. 
But  I  had  the  liberty  of  changing  the  reli- 
gion? 

Vizier. 
Politics  is  another  matter! 

Pehr. 
Then   God   save   all   peoples    from   politics ! 
Must  I  begin  my  reign  with  the  refusal  of  an 
humble  petition? 

Vizier. 

Your  Highness  cannot  begin  better  than  by 
strengthening  the  laws  of  the  realm. 

136 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 
But  I'll  never  sisnil 


■^o^ 


Vizier. 

It  is  not  necessary;  the  Administration  will 
attend  to  that.  The  Cabinet  is  adjourned. 
Will  it  please  Your  Hig'hness  to  lay  aside  his 
official  attire  and  return  to  private  life,  with 
its  petty  diversions.  The  Chamberlain  is  at 
Your  Highness'  service.     [Goes.] 

[The  Chaynherlain  removes  Caliph's  crown 
and  sceptre  and  conducts  him  to  divan.  En- 
ter Dancers,  Singers  and  Poet  Laureate. 
The  Dance.] 

Pehr. 
What  is  this  company? 

Chambkrlain. 
This  is  the  Court. 

Peiir. 

Wliy    do    tlH*y   wear   such    shorj    drosses?     I 
do  not  like  that  custom 


137 


LUCKY  PFJTE 


Chamberlain. 

It  is  the  custom  of  the  country,  Your  High- 
ness. 

Pehr. 
This  at  least  is  not  politics. 

Chamberlain. 

The  first  Court  Singer  begs  that  she  may 
entertain  Your  Highness  with  an  idealistic 
song  written  by  the  celebrated  poet  laureate, 
Hourglass-Link. 

Pehr. 
Be  good  enough  to  entertain  me! 

Singer. 

[With  lute,  sings.] 

Then  say  farewell  to  Iloraire,  the  march  is  al- 
ready broken. 

0  army,  hast  thou  the  strength  to  say  a  fare- 
well ! 

Pehr. 

Where's  the  rhyme? 


138 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Poet  Laureate. 
There  are  no  rlijines  in  this  kind  of  poetry. 

Pehr. 

That's  bad!     Continue — 

Ameer. 

[Aside  to  historian.]     He's  not  long  for  this 
place. 

Singer. 

Your  Highness  must  pardon  me,  but  I  am  in- 
disposed to-day. 

Pehr. 

Chaniborlaiii,  is  there  not  something  in  the 
constitution  called  bastinado? 
[Panic] 

CUAMBEKLAIN. 

A  s  su  red  I  y — l)u  t — 

Pi:tti{. 
[To  singer.]     Continue,  tlien ! 


lao 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Singer. 
[Sings.'l 
Marble  brow,  flowing  hair,  sparkling  rows  of 

teeth, 
She  steps  as  light  as  the  pacer,  lest  she  soil  her 
hoof  in  the  mud. 

Pehr. 
Mud?     I  don't  like  dirt  in  poetry.     Goon! 

Singer. 
Swelling  bosom,  slender  waist,  throbbing  now 

anew; 
As  she  gives  each  fresh  embrace,  she  is  like  to 

break  in  two ! 

Pehr.  -  ^ 

Oh!— 

Singer. 

0  happy  man  with  perfume  laden! 

Man  of  high  estate! 
Who  may  in  some  dreary  hour 

Hold  her  in  his  sweet  embrace. 

Pehr. 

That   will   do!    Where's   the    author?    Au- 
thor! 

140 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Poet  Laureate. 
Your  Highness,  I  have  not  learned  to  flatter. 

Pehr. 

Haven't  you?  That's  a  poor  poet  laureate! 
Then  play  up  your  strophe  so  we  may  hear  if 
you  lie. 

Poet  Laureate. 

Your  Highness — surely  I  can  never  ques- 
tion— 

Pehr. 

Don't  talk — just  reel  off  I 

Poet  Laureate. 

The  soul  hath  lost  itself  since  love's  flame  it 
hatli  grasped, 
Nor  doth  it  awaken  to  reason,  under  the  witch- 
craft of  eyes. 

But  my  love  for  hinds  T  leave — 

Pehr. 
Pardon — what  did  you  say  I 


141 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Poet  Laureate. 

[Irritated.]     My  love   for  liinds   I  leave   and 

cherish  a  noble  prince, 
Generous  and  well  born — nor  tainted  by  low 

base  deeds; 
The  prince  who  hath  vanquished  his  foemen. 

Whatever  the  cost  might  be, 
Strong  in  the  Faith  is  he!     Heresy's  dreaded 

scourge ! 

Pehr. 

[Springs  to  Jiis  feet.]     Do  you  mean  it  seri- 
ously or  are  you  joking? 

Poet  Laureate. 

I  mean  it  seriously.  Your  Highness.     How 
should  anything  else  be — 

Pehr. 

Indeed!     It  is  in  all  seriousness,  then,  that 
you  praise  my  low  actions? 

Poet  Laureate. 

Your  Highness  stands  as  high  above  low  ac- 
tions as  the  sun  above  a  mud-puddle! 


142 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

I  know  yon  and  your  gang,  counterfeiter! 
You  call  me,  who  foreswore  my  faith,  the  De- 
fender of  the  Faith;  you  say  that  I,  a  bell- 
ringer's  son,  am  of  royal  descent;  that  I  am 
generous,  who  refused  to  grant  the  first  hum- 
ble petition  presented  since  my  coming  to  the 
throne !  I  know  you,  for  your  kind  is  to  be 
found  the  world  over.  You  live  for  thought 
and  immortality,  3'ou  say;  but  you  are  never 
seen  when  a  thought  is  to  be  born;  you  are 
never  felt  when  it  comes  to  a  question  of  im- 
mortality. But  around  heaped  up  dishes,  in 
the  sunlight  of  affluence  and  power,  there  you 
swarm,  like  fat  meat  flies,  only  to  fly  away  that 
you  may  set  black  specks  upon  those  who  can 
let  themselves  be  slain  for  both  thought  and 
immortality.  Out  of  my  sight,  liar!  I  would 
have  your  head  removed  did  I  not  see  the 
shadow  of  a  ])urposr'  in  your  ]iresence.  A  poor 
ruler  is  forced  by  polifKal  considerations  to 
do  so  many  despicable  tilings  that  he  would  die 
of  shame  did  he  not  have  an  insiilution  like 
you  to  dull  his  conscience  continually.  Go!  I 
would  be  alone. 

143 


LUCKY  PEIIR 


Chamberlain. 
Your  ITig:liness,  it  cannot  be. 

Pehr. 

It  can  be !  [All  go  out  except  Pehr  and 
Royal  Historian.'] 

Pehr. 

What  are  you  waiting  for?  Wliat  do  you 
do? 

Historian. 

I  am  writing  Your  Highness'  history. 

Pehr. 
So  you  are  Court  Historian. 

Historian. 
Royal — 

Pehr. 

What  matter,  once  you're  dead!  But  what 
shall  you  write  about?  I  have  never  carried 
on  any  wars. 

Historian. 

That  is  just  what  I  wish  to  speak  about. 
Your  Highness  only  need  turn  to  the  Minister 
of  War— 

144 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 

Then  he  will  arrange  one;  that  is  his  occu- 
pation, and  for  that  he  is  paid  20,000  shekels. 

Historian. 
It  is  the  people,  Your  Highness,  who — 

Pehr. 

Conduct   the   wars.     The   Minister    of   War 
makes  them,  while  we  sit  at  home  and  take  the 
glory — the  shame  we  never  take. 
[E)iter  Vizier.] 

Vizier. 
The  bride  is  waiting. 

Peiir. 

The  bride!    Who?    Where?    What  does  it 
mean! 

Vizier. 
Your  Highness'  consort. 

Peiir. 

Lisa!     Slie   loves   me    still,   despite   all    my 
faults?     Conduct  licr  liillior.     She  shall  bring 

145 


TJTCKY  VFAm 


the  fresh  air  of  the  forest  into  these  musty 
halls ! 

Vizier. 

Your  Highness  wished  first  to  sign  the  mar- 
riage contract. 

Pehr. 
I'm  forever  writing!  No,  this  time  I  don't 
have  to  read.  [Signs.']  Now,  Koyal  Histo- 
rian, you  can  i)ut  down  at  least  one  action  in 
my  life  that  was  not  crime!  [Vizier  and  His- 
torian go.] 

[Bride,  veiled  in  Oriental  fashion,  is 
ushered  in;  attendants  withdraw  immedi- 
ately; from  behind  is  heard  soft  music.'] 

Pehr. 

[Runs  toward  bride.]  Lisa,  Lisa!  You  al- 
ways come  like  a  sunbeam  when  the  clouds 
thicken — always  like  a  friend  in  tlie  dark  hour ! 

Bride. 
[Raises  veil.]     My  name  is  not  Lisa. 

Pehr. 

Not  Lisa — What  does  this  mean?  Treach- 
ery!   Wlio  are  you  then? 

146 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Your  consort. 
My  consort ! 


Beide. 
Pehr. 


Bride. 
[IndifferenUy.']     The     Administration     had 
three  candidates  for  you:     The  Vizier's  choice 
fell  upon  me  because  my  father  threatened  you 
with  a  tariff  treaty. 

Pehr. 
The  administration's  candidate — tariff  trea- 
ties— what  does  that  signify? 

Bride. 

Politics  require  that  princes  shall  sacrifice 
their  personal  considerations  for  the  good  of 
the  people. 

Pehr. 

Politics  require— l>ut  does  the  good  of  the 
people  refjuire  any  ])riTi('es? 

IJjtlUE. 

T  don't  know — hnt  it's  done  once  for  all,  nnd 
now  you  are  my  liushand.  Have  1lie  goodness 
to  be  hap])y,  or  you  will  be  miserable. 

147 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehr. 
Are  you  happy? 

Bride. 
I  am  nothing. 

Pehr. 
Do  you  love  me? 

Bride. 
No,  certainly  not!    And  you  me? 

Pehr. 
No! 

Bride. 

You  love  your  Lisa? 

Pehr. 
And  you  your — 

Bride. 
Ali. 

Pehr. 

0  misery  and  lamentation ! 

Bride. 

Calm    yourself    a    moment — One    moment, 
while  they  come  in  and  congratulate  us.     The 

148 


LUCKY  PEER 


bridal  procession  is  waiting  without.     Silence ! 
They  are  nearing;  stand  at  my  side! 

Pehr. 

Must  I  go  forth  again,  and  jest? 

Bkide. 

Obey  me,  for  I'm  a  wise  woman !  "VMien  they 
go  I  shall  tell  yon  iny  plan.  Here  they  come! 
Look  pleasant,  husband,  else  they  will  say  that 
I  made  you  unhaiipy. 

Pehr. 

Dear  old  father,  how  right  you  were !  Black 
is  black  and  can  never  be  white.  [Pehr  and 
bride  seat  themselves  on  divan  and  assume  a 
sentimental  attitude.} 

[Ente)'    Singers,    Dancers,    Chamberlain, 

Ameer,  Royal  Historian,  Vizier.] 

Chorus  of  ivomen  sing: 
Joyous  llic  loving  licai'ts 
Tliaf  ])l('«'d  from  cu]iid's  (hirts! 
Ye  ni,iz:lilingal('s  mikI  ye  rosos  sing, 
NobI*'  lialls  and  com-lyards  ring! 
'I'lic  ( 'ali))li  'k  coiirl   icjoiccs 
And  ecliocs  love's  true  voices. 
[Pehr  and  bride  hide  their  agifalion.] 

140 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Vizier. 

Caliph,  a  liappy  people,  whom  you  find  as- 
sembled here,  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  rejoice 
as  they  see  happiness,  like  a  sun,  beam  in  your 
eyes  to  shine  on  the  white  rose  which  long 
hath  sought  the  tall  oak's  trunk  to  lean  upon; 
a  liappy  people,  youthful  princess,  rejoice  in 
your  good  fortune  and  hope  that  your  tree 
may  have  off-shoots  with  fresh  rose  buds, 
which,  at  some  future  day,  may  spread  joy  and 
bliss,  like  a  spring  rain,  over  land  and  king- 
dom! 

[Pehr  leaps  up  and  draws  his  sword,  bride 

attempts  in  vain  to  calm  himJ] 

Pehr. 

Hell  and  Damnation!  You  grand  vizier  of 
lies!  and  you,  dressed  up  adventurers,  are 
you  my  people !  Are  these  hired  maidens,  with 
their  venal  tricks,  my  people  who  pay  taxes 
to  us  that  we  may  say  nay  to  their  humblest 
request?  No!  I  have  never  seen  my  people. 
Is  this  young  woman,  whom  you  have  placed 
by  my  side,  my  mate  who  loves  me?  No — 
She  is  a  heifer  that  you  have  let  into  my  stall ; 

150 


LUCKY  PEHR 


she  is  an  imp  who  is  to  shoot  branches  on  the 
gene^ilogical  tree;  she  is  an  administration's 
candidate  who  makes  happy  her  spouse  with 
a  tariff  treaty.  You  call  us  happy  because  we 
pretend  to  be ;  but  we  are  most  unhappy,  for  we 
stand  near  the  brink  of  a  crime,  which,  praise 
God,  we  shall  never  commit.  I  curse  you,  pal- 
ace! dedicated  as  a  temple  of  lies.  Down  in 
the  dust  with  you,  false  family  tree!  [Gene- 
alogical chart  drops  from  ivall  and  rolls  up  on 
■floor.']  Break  into  shatters,  crown  and  scep- 
tre, tyranny's  symbols!  [Crown  and  sceptre 
come  down  with  a  crash.]  Tumble  throne, 
where  unrighteousness  is  seated!  [Throne  col- 
lapses. Thunder,  lightning,  storm.]  Scatter 
like  decoys,  fortune  hunters  and  outcasts  that 
have  placed  yourselves  between  noble  and  com- 
moner! [All  hut  bride  disappear.  To  bride.] 
You  lamb  of  sacrifice,  be  free  like  myself! 
Now  I  want  to  go  out  inio  Nature  and  see  if 
honor  and  decency  do  iioi  still  live!  {/hide 
vanishes;  Pehr  remains  standing,  ha)ids  to  face, 
until  scene  is  changed.] 


151 


LUCKY  PEim 


Scene  Two. 

Seashore  ivith  wreckage  of  cast  up  seaweed, 
etc.  To  left  an  up-rooted  oak-stump,  fishing 
tackle  and  hulk  of  a  ivrecked  vessel.  Back- 
ground: open  sea;  seameivs  float  on  waves. 
To  right  cliff-shore  with  pine  woods;  lower 
down  is  a  hut. 

Pehr. 
Wliere  am  I?  I  breathe  freer — All  evil 
thoughts  flee!  I  sense  a  perfume  as  of  old 
romances;  I  hear  a  murmur,  like  far-away 
streams ;  the  ground  under  me  is  soft  as  a  bed. 
Ah — it  is  the  seashore ! 

0  Sea!     Thou  Mother  Earth's  good  mother! 

Be  greeted  by  an  old  and  withered  heart 

Which  comes  that  it  may  be  by  thy  moist  winds 

Swept  clean  and  freshened; 

Wliich  comes  to  thy  salt  waves  for  cleansing 
baths 

And  healing  for  the  sores  the  world's  lies  and 
madness  gave  to  it. 

Blow  wind,  and  fill  with  thy  pure  air 

My   lungs,    that   breathed   in   pois'n-filled   va- 
pours ; 

152 


LUCKY  PKPIR 


Sing  \rave,  and  let  mine  ear  be  soothed 

By  the  harmonies  of  thy  pure  tones, 

As  I  stand  here  'mongst  the  wreckage  on  the 

strand, 
A  wreck  myself,  which  the  breakers  cast  npon 

the  sand 
When   the   vessel   crashed    'gainst   the    sharp 

cliff- rocks ! 
Be  greeted,  Sea,  that  nurses  healthy  thoughts 
And  recreates  the  soul  in  shrunken  body 
When  every  spring  thy  billows  break 
And  gull  and  swallow  chatter  'bovo  thy  wave, 
To  wak'n  anew  the  joy  of  Ufe,  and  strength, 

and  hope! 

[Sees  hu(.\ 
What's    tills?     A    human    habitation!     Not 
even  liore  is  a  moment's  peace  granted  iiic — 
Maledictions! 

A  Voice. 
Curse  not ! 

[//  (hrkens  aiirl  the  sea  hcpius  to  rise, 
wor'nif)  toHdid  liini  daruuf  folloicinfj  speech 
so  that  he  is  fnrcrrl  rlnwv  stage.] 


153 


LUCKY  PEim 


Pehr. 

Wlio  spoke!  [Tries  to  fee  toivard  left  and 
is  met  by  elk.]  "Wild  beasts  stop  me!  [Tries 
to  flee  toward  right,  hut  is  intercepted  hy 
hulls.']  Even  here — Back!  [Animals  come  on 
stage  and  crowd  around  him.']  Tliey  surround 
me!  Help!  [Runs  to  hut  and  knocks.]  Is  no 
one  here?  Help,  help !  [Attempts  to  cast  him- 
self into  the  sea,  hut  sea-serpents  and  dragons 
rise  up.]  Ah,  nature,  even  you  are  a  savage 
monster  that  would  devour  all  you  come  upon ! 
You,  my  last  friend,  tricked  me  also — What 
terror's  visions!  The  sea  would  swallow  me. 
What  is  my  life  worth  more?  Come,  Death, 
and  set  me  free!  [Sea  gradually  subsides.] 
[Enter  Death;  beasts  vanish.] 

Death. 

Here  am  I,  at  your  service!     What  would 
you  me? 

Pehr. 

[Coivers,  hut  recovers  himself.]     Oh,  really! 
— It  was  nothing  especially  pressing — 

Death. 

You  called  me! 

154 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Pehk. 

Did  I  actually  do  that?  Well,  it  is  only  a 
form  of  speech  which  we  use;  I  really  want 
nothing  of  you. 

Death. 

But  I  want  something  of  you!  Stand 
straight  on  your  legs  and  I'll  cut;  it  will  be 
over  in  no  time.     [Raises  scythe.] 

Pehr, 
Mercy,  mercy!     I  don't  want  to  die! 

Death. 

Bosh !  What  has  life  to  offer  you  who  have 
no  wishes  left? 

Pehr. 

That  one  does  not  know ;  if  one  might  stop  to 
consider,  then  perhaps — 

Death. 

Oh,  you  have  had  ninplc  time;  now  if  is  too 
laic.  Straighten  your  liack  so  that  you  may 
fall  like  a  real  world-iialcr !     [Lifts  scythe.] 

15.3 


LUCKY  PETTR 


Pehr. 
No,  no,  for  God's  sake,  wait  a  little — 

Death. 

You're  a  timid  beggar!  Live  on  then  if  you 
think  it  anything;  but  don't  regret  it  later.  I 
shall  not  come  again  for  a  long  time.  [Starts 
to  go.] 

Pehe. 

No,  no,  no!  don't  leave  me  alone — 

Death. 
Alone  ?    Why,  you  have  lovely  Nature ! 

Pehe. 

Yes,  it's  all  very  well  when  the  weather  is 
fine  and  the  sun  shines,  but  thus  late — 

Death. 

You  see  now  that  you  cannot  live  without 
your  fellow  men.  Knock  three  times  on  the 
door  over  yonder,  and  you  will  find  company. 
[Death  vanishes.  Pehr  knocks  three  times  on 
door  of  hut;  the  Wise  Man  comes  out."] 


156 


LUCKY  PEER 


Wise  Man. 
Whom  seek  you? 

Pehr. 
A  linman  being!     In  short — I'm  imhappy. 

Wise  Man. 

Then  you  should  not  seek  human  beings,  for 
they  cannot  help  you. 

Pehr. 
I  know  it,  yet  I  would  neither  live  nor  die; 
I   have   suffered   all,   and   my   heart   will   not 
break! 

Wise  Man. 

You  are  young,  and  do  not  know  the  human 
heart.  In  here  I  have  lately  been  pondering 
the  causes  of  iiiaiikind's  misery.  Would  you 
like  to  see  how  the  little  object  called  the  hu- 
man hcai't  looks?  [Steps  inlo  Iml  tnid  returns 
presoillif  )rifh  a  casket  and  a  lantern,  which  he 
ha)if/.s  OH  (I  hfc.] 

You  see  the  litth'  three-cornerc*!  muscle, 
whifh  now  has  ceased  to  beat  Onco  it  thiobljod 
with    I'ai:"*',    tlmrii]if'd    witli    joy,    ('r;iiii|ic(l    with 

157 


LUCKY  PEHR 


sorrow,  swelled  with  hope.  You  see  that  it  is 
divided  into  two  large  chambers :  In  one  lives 
the  good,  in  tlie  other  the  evil — or,  with  a  word, 
there  sits  an  angel  on  one  side  of  the  wall  and 
a  devil  on  the  other.  When  they  chance  to  be 
at  odds  with  each  other — which  happens  quite 
often — there  is  unrest  in  the  person  and  he 
fancies  "the  heart  will  burst — but  it  doesn't, 
for  the  walls  are  thick.  Oh,  yes,  look  at  this 
one  I  Do  you  see  thousands  of  little  scars  from 
needle  thrusts?  They  did  not  go  through,  but 
the  pricks  remain  nevertheless. 

Pehr. 
Who  has  bornf  this  heart,  Wise  Man? 

Wise  Man. 
The  unhappiest  of  humans. 

Pehr. 
And  who  was  that? 

Wise  Mak. 

It  was  a  man.     Do  you  see  the  marks  of  a 
heel;   do  you   see   the   nail-prints?     It  was   a 

158 


LUCKY  PEHR 


woman  that  trampled  on  this  heart  for  twenty- 
six  years. 

Pehr. 
And  he  did  not  tire? 

Wise  Man. 

Yes,  he  grew  weary  one  Christmas  Eve  and 
freed  himself  from  her.  As  a  punishment,  ho 
came  under  the  ban  of  the  Powers;  he  cannot 
die,  although  his  heart  has  been  taken  from 
him. 

Pehr. 

Can  he  never  be  released  from  the  spell? 

Wise  Man. 

AMien  his  son  shall  have  found  a  faithful 
woman  and  brought  her  home  a  bride,  then  the 
spell  will  be  broken.  But  that  can  never  be  be- 
cause his  son  is  gone  forever. 

Pehr. 
What  has  become  of  him? 

Wise  Man. 

He  went  out  in  the  world. 

159 


LUCKY  PEim 


Pehr. 

Then  why  can  he  never  get  any  bride,  poor 
boy! 

Wise  Man. 

Because  one  who  loves  only  himself  can  never 
love  anyone  else. 

Pehr. 

He  means  the  old  man,  my  father.  [Wise 
Man  sinks  through  floor;  hut  vanishes.  It  be- 
gins to  dawn.'] 

Pehr. 

*'He  who  loves  only  himself" — So  said  Lisa 
also — But  I  hate  myself,  I  loathe  myself  after 
the  cowardly  things  I  have  done,  and  I  love 
Lisa !  Yes,  I  love  her,  I  love  her !  [Sun  shines 
on  ivaves  and  lights  up  pine  woods  to  right; 
clouds  disperse.  A  boat  is  seen  out  at  sea,  it 
comes  nearer  and  nearer  and  Lisa  is  seen  at 
the  rudder.  She  beckons  to  Pehr  as  the  boat 
recedes.] 

Sea-gulls  in  tlie  air,  tell  her!  Sunbeams, 
carry  my  words  on  your  pillars  of  fire,  and 
bear  them  to  her.     But  where  must  I  seek  thee 

160 


LUCKY  PEHR 


— where f  [Boat  is  seen  on  horizon  a  mo- 
ment.] It  is  slie!  Now,  ring,  fulfill  my  last 
wish  and  take  me  to  her!  The  ring  is  gone! 
Woe,  what  does  this  augur  1  Is  my  story  ended, 
or  shall  it  now  begin  perhaps?  Lisa,  my  soul's 
beloved!  [He  runs  up  on  cliff  and  ivaves.']  If 
you  hear  me,  answer;  if  you  see  me,  give  me 
a  sign !  Ah — she  turns  out  toward  the  fjord — 
Well,  then,  stonn  and  sea,  that  separate  me 
from  all  that  my  heart  loves,  I  challenge  you 
to  battle  for  the  highest  prize!  [Pushes  out 
boat  drawn  up  on  shore.] 

Blow,  wind,  and  rock,  wave  I  My  weak  keel 
shall  cleave  you  like  a  sword.  On,  my  boat, 
even  though  wo  miss  the  goal,  let  us  struggle 
on  till  we  sink! 


CURTAIN. 


IGl 


ACT  FIVE 


ACT  FIVE 

Scexe:  Interior  of  a  little  country  church, 
ivith  frescoed  ceiling.  At  hack,  centre,  altar 
with  crucifix;  to  left,  pulpit;  on  a  pillar  down 
left  an  image  of  Saint  Bartholomew  with  skin 
in  hand;  directly  opposite,  on  a  pillar,  image 
of  Saint  Laurence  with  the  grill.  Broom  is 
propped  against  altar  railing.  Two  rows  of 
praying  stools  at  right  and  left  sides  form 
an  aisle  from  front  to  altar.  At  right  a  con- 
fessional; (it  h'/t  an  iron  door. 

[The  Elf  stands  in  one  window,  the  Fairy 
in  the  other.] 

Elf. 

It  was  iiol  llic  old  man  iliat  alo  up  llic  por- 
ridge, it  was  the  rats. 

Fairy. 

Then  it  was  not  to  <]o  I'clii-  a  kindness  tliat 
you  sent  liirii  out  in  the  world,  hut  to  liai'iii  Iho 
old  man ! 

165 


LUCKY  PEHK 


Elf. 
Even  we  immortals  can  make  mistakes.    Let 
us  make  amends  for  our  fault. 

Fairy. 
If  it  is  not  too  late? 

Elf. 
How  so? 

Fairy. 

Pelir  is  a  misanthrope  and  cannot  become 
reconciled  to  life. 

Elf. 

Lisa  will  rectify  all  that,  and  then  the  old 
man  will  have  atoned  for  his  sin.  One  must 
patch  where  one  has  torn. 

Fairy. 
I  have  already  made  my  preparations. 

Elf. 
Here! 

Fairy. 

Here  in  this  sanctuary  whose  floor  we  may 
not  tread. 

166 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Elf. 

And  why  not?  True,  it  is  holy  ground,  and 
we  were  not  allowed  to  become  participants  in 
the  Great  Redemption  because — well,  because 
something  which  we  mustn't  know  about  came 
between.  But  that  does  not  prevent  the  hu- 
mans from  believing  some  good  of  us;  and  in 
that  they  do  right,  for  the  matter  has  its  sides. 
Meantime,  I  shall  not  absent  myself — even  if 
I  may  not  be  near  to  witness  that  this  recon- 
ciliation comes  out  all  right.  Even  we  lost 
souls  can  rejoice  in  the  happiness  of  others. 
Farewell,  but  not  for  long. 

Fairy. 

Farewell.     [Elf  and  Fairy  vanish.'\ 
[Enter  Lisa.'\ 

.  Lisa. 

Hero  in  tliis  poaccrnl  clun-cli  the  good  fairy 
promised  me  that  I  should  meet  him — TTow 
shall  I  behold  lilni  now?  ITas  lie  hs-inicd 
auglit  of  life,  or  is  Ik;  still  the  same  seHisii, 
])leasure-loving  youth  who  ])ursues  only  fickle 
fortune?     If  lie  liad  had  the  courage  to  do  a 

1G7 


LUCKY  PETTR 


bad  act  in  a  good  cause,  then  he  would  at  least 
have  shown  that  he  could  make  a  sacrifice  for 


something  besides  himself;  for  the  most  that 
we  can  give  to  a  cause  is  our  precious  regard 
for  ourselves.  Higher  powers  demand  that 
such  and  such  shall  take  place ;  they  choose  the 
instruments  where  they  will  and  none  may  give 
up  the  commission,  even  if  it  means  going 
under.  My  friend  was  not  that  sort,  and  there- 
fore, therefore — Hush!  I  hear  footsteps — It 
is  he!  No,  I  would  not  meet  him  yet;  I  must 
collect  my  thoughts.  If  I  conceal  myself  here 
—in  the  confessional —  [Steps  w.] 
[Enter  Pehr.] 

Pehr. 

[Droits  down  on  a  prayer  stool,  left.]  She 
flees  from  me,  as  I  flee  from  my  bad  thoughts ! 
Alone,  forsaken — what  more  is  there  for  me  in 
life"?  Naught  have  I  learned  of  life  save  its 
nothingness,  and  no  wishes  are  left  to  me  but 
evil  ones.  My  soul  would  be  like  an  empty 
shell  were  it  not  filled  with  her !  My  life — Ah, 
what  has  it  been!  [Pall  pounds  on  floor.] 
What    was    that? — Ghosts    in    the    sunshine? 

168 


LUCKY  PEHR 


That  would  be  a  funny  siolit!  [Broom  raps 
on  foor.]  Again!  'Tis  said  that  one  can 
see  gliosts  in  broad  daylight,  if  one  peeps 
through  a  door-crack,  it  is  even  maintained 
that  one  can  see  oneself.  Oneself — /  If  one 
could  really  do  that,  how  easy  it  would  be  to 
evade  one's  worst  faults!  I'll  try  it.  [Opens 
door  left  and  places  himself  behind  it.] 

[Pehr's  shadow  steps  up  into  the  pulpit, 

drinks  from  the  goblet,  and  turns  hour-glass. 

Pehr  stands  at  door  with  back  to  spectators.] 

Shadow. 

My  beloved  hearers!  [Pall,  Broom,  Bar- 
tholomew and  Laurence  stir.]  My  beloved 
hearers  and  you,  Pohr,  who  stand  behind  the 
door,  my  sermon  will  not  be  long  since  the  hour 
is  already  late  and  it  is  especially  to  this  so- 
called  Lucky  Pehr  that  I  would  address  a  few 
remarks.  Yes,  you,  Pehr — you  have  rushed 
tiirough  life  lik(;  a  fool,  In  i)insnit  of  fortune; 
all  your  wishes  have  been  fulfilled — save  one — 
and  they  have  brought  you  no  ha|)|)iness.  Pay 
attention,  vou  wlio  stand  licliiiid  llie  door! 
You  have  made  no  lea]!   Ilnough  life,  for  on 


LUCKY  PEim 


that  track  one  rmis  well.  All  the  experiences 
through  which  you  think  you  have  passed  were 
but  dreams ;  for,  believe  me,  one  wins  no  wishes 
with  luck-rings  out  here  in  Reality;  here  one 
gains  nothing  without  labor.  Do  you  know  what 
labor  is? — No!  It  is  something  very  heavy; 
but  it  must  be  heavy  the  sweeter  the  repose — 
Labor,  Pehr,  and  be  honest,  but  don't  become 
a  saint,  for  then  you  would  be  vain,  and  it  is 
not  our  virtues  but  our  faults  that  make  us  hu- 
man. Listen  well,  you  who  stand  behind  the 
door — Life  is  not  such  as  you  saw  it  in  your 
youtliful  dreams.  It  is  a  desert,  that  is  true; 
but  a  desert  which  has  its  flowers;  it  is  a 
stormy  sea,  but  one  that  has  its  ports  by  ver- 
dant isles.  Heed,  Pehr!  If  you  want  to  go 
forth  into  life  now,  then  do  it  in  earnest.  But 
you  will  never  be  a  real  man  without  a  woman 
— Find  her!  And  now,  pay  close  attention, 
Pehr,  for  I  shall  leave  the  word  to  Saint  Lau- 
rence after  dismissing  you  with  the  sage's 
eternally  young  and  eternally  old  exhortation: 
Know  thyself!  Saint  Laurence  has  the  word. 
[Shadow  vanishes.] 


170 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Saint  Laurence. 
[Presents  his  grill.]  I  am  the  holy  Saint 
Laurence  with  the  grill,  who,  at  Emperor 
Dicii's  command  was  beaten  with  thongs  seven 
days  in  succession  and  afterwards  was  broiled 
on  this  grill  by  a  slow  fire.  There  is  no  one 
who  has  suffered  so  much  as  II 

Saint  Bartholomew. 

What  is  that  to  speak  of!  I  am  the  holy 
Saint  Bartholomew  with  the  skin,  who,  at 
Emperor  Pamphilii's  command  was  flayed  alive 
clear  down  to  the  knees;  and  what  miracles 
happened  after  my  death!  You  perhaps  have 
never  heard  of  the  mysteries  or  of  the  devil  in 
woman  shape  and  the  prognostication  about 
the  volcano? 

Saint  Laurence. 

Wliat  is  that  to  sjx'ak  of  as  compared  witli 
mine?  1  liave  six  iiiii'acles:  The  beam  in  the 
church,  the  crystal  chalice,  tlie  Nun's  cor]ise — 

Pall. 
[Rises  up.]     Oh,  boast  Tnodorately  of  your 
sufferings.     I   am   only   a    jiall,   but   for   fifty 

171 


LUCKY  PEHR 


years  I  have  borne  on  my  back  so  many  corpses, 
and  have  seen  so  much  suffering — so  many 
shattered  hopes,  so  much  inconsolable  grief, 
so  many  torn  hearts  that  suffered  in  silence 
and  were  thrust  into  oblivion  without  the  solace 
of  gilded  statues — that  you  would  be  silent  had 
you  seen  one-half  of  it.  Ah,  life  is  so  black,  so 
black,  so  black! 

Broom. 

[Raps  on  floor  and  rustles  its  straws.] 
What — you  chatter  about  life,  old  Pall,  you 
who  have  seen  only  death?  Life  is  black  on 
one  side  and  white  on  the  other.  To-day  I'm 
only  a  broom,  but  yesterday  I  stood  in  the  for- 
est, so  stout  and  trim,  and  wanted  to  be  some- 
thing great.  They  all  want  to  be  great,  you 
see,  so  it  happened  as  it  happened!  Now  I 
think  like  this :  AVhat  comes  is  best ;  since  you 
couldn't  be  great,  you  may  as  well  be  sometliing 
else;  there  is  so  much  to  choose  from — One 
may  of  course  be  useful,  and  at  worst  one  can 
content  oneself  with  being  good,  and  when  one 
has  not  been  given  two  legs  to  stand  on, 
one  must  be  happy  anyhow  and  hop  on  one. 

172 


LUCKY  PEHR 


[Broom  goes  humping  along  and  finally  leans 
against  altar.'] 

Pehr. 

[Walks  rapidly  over  to  holy-ivater  fount,  hy 
confessional,  takes  holy-water  sprinkler  and 
sprinkles  out  into  the  church.]  Away,  spec- 
tres and  evil  spirits !  [As  he  lays  back  sprink- 
ler a  noise  is  heard  from  the  confessional.] 
Someone  is  there!  Reverend  Father,  hear  me 
and  accept  the  si2:hs  of  a  broken  heart! 

Lisa. 

[In  assumed  voice — from  confessional.] 
Speak,  my  son. 

Peiir. 

IIow  sliall  I  leave  my  dreams? 

Lisa. 

Oil,  yon  liavo  dreamed  enough  and  yon  are 
no  longer  youn^.  I'liiiil^  of  yonr  misstei)s — 
have  you  not  made  siu'li! 

Pkiir. 

Yos,  T  have  pursued  fortune  and  have  sacri- 
ficed conscience  and  honor  in  order  to  win  fame 

173 


LUCKY  PETIR 


and   power.     Now   I   cannot   bear  misfortune, 
and  hate  myself! 

Lisa. 
Then  you  have  ceased  to  love  yourself  above 
all  else? 

Pehr. 
Yes. — I  would   free  myself  from  self — if  I 
could. 

Lisa. 
Then,  Pehr,  you  can  also  love  another. 

Pehr. 

Oh,  yes!     But  where  shall  I  seek  her? 

Lisa. 

{Comes  out.']     Here!     {They  embrace.'] 

Pehr. 
Now  you  will  not  leave  me  again? 

Lisa. 
No,  Pehr,  for  now  I  believe  you  love  me. 

Pehr. 
^Vliat  good  fairy  sent  you  across  my  path- 
way? 

174 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Lisa. 

Do  you  still  believe  in  good  fairies?  Mark 
you,  when  a  little  baby  boy  is  bom  into  the 
world,  a  little  baby  girl  is  also  born  somewhere; 
and  they  seek  and  seek  until  they  find  each  other. 
Sometimes  they  go  amiss  as  to  the  right  one, 
then  it  turns  out  badly;  sometimes  they  never 
find  each  other,  then  there  is  much  sorrow  and 
affliction;  but  when  they  find  each  other,  then 
there  is  joy,  and  it  is  the  greatest  joy  life  holds. 

Pehr. 

It  is  Paradise  Found! 

[Ejiter  sexton,  imth  staff — The  old  Man  in 
the  towcr.l 

Sexton. 
The  church  must  be  closed. 

Lisa. 
See,  now  he  drives  ns  from  Paradise  1 

Pehr. 

That  he  cannot  do. — We  carry  it  with  us  and 
lay  it,  like  the  verdant  isle,  out  in  ilie  stormy 
sea. 

175 


LUCKY  PEHR 


Sexton. 

[Laijs  down  his  staff. 1  Alongside  the  peace- 
ful harbor,  where  the  waves  break  up  and  go 
to  rest. 

Pehr  and  Lisa. 

Father!  Father!  [Fairy  and  Elf  appear, 
each  in  their  windo2v.'] 


CURTAIN". 


176 


STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 
I\Iost    Important    Biography    of    Years 

GEORGE  BERNARD  SHAW: 

His  Life  and  Works. 

A  Critical  Biography.     {Authorized.) 
By  Archibald  Henderson,  M,  A.,  Ph.  D. 

"With  two  plates  in  color  {one,  the  frontispiece,  from 
an  autochrome  by  Alvin  Langdon  Coburn,  the  other 
from  a  water  color  by  Bernard  Partridge)  two  photo- 
gravures, 26  plates  on  art  paper,  and  numerous  illus- 
trations in  the  text. 

In  one  volume,  demy  8vo.     Cloth  and  gilt  top. 

Net,  $5.00 

This  remarkable  book,  upon  wliich  the  author  has 
been  at  work  for  more  than  six  years,  is  tlie  autlu'utic 
biography  of  the  great  Irisli  dramatist  and  socialist. 
In  order  to  give  it  the  authority  which  any  true  biog- 
raphy of  a  living  man  must  possess,  ]\Ir.  Shaw  has 
aided  the  author  in  every  possible  way.  The  book 
is  based  not  only  on  the  voluminous  mass  of  Mr. 
Shaw's  works,  published,  uneollected  in  book  form  or 
unpublished,  but  also  on  extensive  data  furnished  the 
autlior  by  Mr.  Shaw  in  porson. 

A  nijusterly  and  monumental  volume,  it  is  a  history 
of  Art,  Music,  literature,  Drama,  Sociology,  Phi- 
losophy, and  the  general  develoimient  of  the  Ibsen- 
N'ietzschcaii  Movcjiicnt  in  Morals  for  the  last  thirty 
years.  The  Press  are  uiianiiiious  in  their  jjraise  of 
this  wonderful  work. 

The  Dial:     "In  over  five  hundred  pages,  witli  an  en- 
ergy and  carefulne.ss  and  symjjathy  whieh  deserve 

177 


STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 


liigh  commendation,  Dr.  Henderson  has  presented 
his  subject  from  all  conceivable  angles." 

The  Bookman:  "A  more  entertaining  narrative 
whether  in  biography  or  fiction  has  not  appeared  in 
recent  years." 

The  Independent :  **  Whatever  George  Bernard  Shaw 
may  think  of  his  Biography  the  rest  of  the  world 
will  probably  agree  that  Dr.  Henderson  has  done  a 
good  job. ' ' 

Boston  Herald:  "This  is  probably  the  most  inform- 
ing and  satisfactory  biography  of  this  very  difficult 
man  that  has  been  written.  A  thoroughly  pains- 
taking work." 

Boston  Transcript:  "There  is  no  exaggeration  in 
saying  it  is  one  of  the  most  entertaining  biographies 
of  these  opening  years  of  the  Twentieth  Century." 

The  North  Carolina  Review:  "The  Biography  is  in- 
teresting and  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  it  is 
painstakingly  discriminating  and  thorough." 

Chicago  Tribune:  "Dr.  Henderson  has  left  nothing 
for  a  future  biographer  of  Shaw  to  say.  He  has 
covered  the  field  and  covered  it  exceedingly  well. ' ' 

Pittsburgh  Dispatch:  "George  Bernard  Shaw  is  here 
revealed  in  intimate  association  with  the  most  note- 
worthy movements  in  Art,  Music,  Literature,  Criti- 
cism, Sociology  and  Philosophy,  of  the  closing  quar- 
ter of  the  Nineteenth  and  the  opening  decade  of  the 
Twentieth  Centuries. ' ' 

Chicago  Record-Herald:  "Prof.  Henderson  has  writ- 
ten a  genuinely  excellent  Biography,  bright,  limpid 
in  style,  mildly  critical  in  tone,  penetrating  in 
thought." 


178 


STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 


A  GREAT  STRINDBERG  PLAY 

Translated  by  Velma  Swanston  Howard,  and 
authorized. 

Easter  (A  Play  in  Three  Acts)  and  Stories. 

From  the  Swedish  of  August  Strindberg.  Translated 
by  Velma  Swanston  Howard.  In  this  work  the 
author  reveals  a  broad  tolerance,  a  rare  poetic  tender- 
ness, augmented  by  an  almost  divine  understanding  of 
human  frailties  as  marking  certain  natural  stages  in 
the  evolution  of  the  soul.  "  Easter  "  will  be  produced 
next  season. 

Authorized  Translation.  Photogravure  frontispiece  of 
Strindberg  etched  by  Zorn.  Handsomely  bound  in  Silk 
Cloth.     Postage  extra.  Net,  $1.50 


Other  Important  Books 

Mind  Cure  and  Other  Essays. 
By  Philip  Zenner,  ]\I.  D. 

This  is  Dr.  Zenner 's  new  book.  It  deals  with  vital 
subjects;  mind  cure,  prevention  of  nervous  disea.ses, 
the  alcohol  (jucstion,  social  disease,  medical  inspection 
of  schools,  ch'fectivcs  and  (leliiuiueiits,  eugenics,  etc. 
The  book  will  interest  everybody.  Dr.  Charles  Fred- 
eric Goss  says  of  these  essays :  "They  touch  upon  the 
most  vital  things  of  life.  In  every  quality  which  I 
think  to  be  of  value  they  excel." 
12mo.     Handsomely  hound.  Net,  $1.25 

The  Soul  and  Sex  in  Education.     Basic  Principles 
for  Parents  and  Teachers. 
By  Dr.  J.  \).  P>uck. 

Basic  principles  for  j)areiits  and  teachers.     TIk;  whole 

question  of  sex  seems  to  have  been  in  confusion  since 

179 


STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 

tlie  beixiiming  of  time.  The  cause  of  this  confusion 
and  the  resulting  degradation  is  ignorance.  The 
above-named  book  does  not  presume  to  settle  this 
vexed  question  once  for  all,  but  it  does  make  clear 
certain  foundation  principles  and  basic  laws  of  hu- 
man life  and  conduct,  upon  which  a  noble  life  and 
a  clean  character  can  alone  be  built.  It  should  be  as 
helpful  to  the  adult  as  in  the  education  of  the  child. 
It  is  based  upon  many  years  of  careful  study  and 
the  best  possible  opportunity  for  observation  and, 
therefore,  deals  with  facts  rather  than  theories.  The 
book  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  teacher  of  the 
young,  no  less  than  of  every  parent. 

Frontispiece.    12mo.    Silk  cloth.  Net,  $1.25 


The  Hamlet  Problem  and  its  Solution. 

By  Emerson  Venable,  Author  of  "Poets  of  Ohio." 

In  this  volume  the  author  advances  a  new  and  revo- 
lutionary theory  which  affords  an  adequate  solution 
to  a  baffling  literary  problem  of  world-wide  interest. 

12mo.    Handsomely  hound.  Net,  $1.00 


How  to  Grow  100  Bushels  of  Corn  per  Acre  on 

Worn  Soil. 

By  "Wm.  C.  Smith,  of  Indiana. 

A  most  useful  and  interesting  book.  The  author  is  a 
practical  farmer,  and  in  a  practical  way  makes  the 
conservation  of  soil  plain.  The  growing  efficiency  of 
the  Government  agriculture  department  and  agricul- 
tural schools  in  recent  years  has  added  greatly  to  the 
knowledge  possessed  by  the  farmers  of  the  methods 
best  suited  to  increa.se  their  crops.  This  volume  as 
the  title  suggests,  will  prove  of  inestimable  value,  and 
if  its  teachings  are  followed  by  the  farmers  through- 

180 


STEWART  &  KIDD  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 

out  the  country,  it  will  revolutionize  the  art  of  farm- 
ing and  make  it  a  most  profitable  business.  As  one 
man  says,  "You  make  conservation  of  the  soil  plain 
and  practical ;  you  present  a  difficult  problem  in  such 
a  good  common  sense  way." 

Twenty-four  full  page  illustrations.  12mo.  Silk 
cloth.  Net,  $1.25 


Practical  Orcharding  on  Rough  Lands. 

By  Shepard  Wells  ]\Ioore,  Practical  Ilorticidturist. 
A  practical  book,  elaborately  illustrated,  containing 
chapters  on  Orcharding  as  a  Business,  Location, 
Drainage,  The  Aspect,  Windbreaks,  Preparation  of 
the  Site,  Laying  Off  the  Orchard,  Selection  and  Care 
of  the  Nursery  Stock,  Planting  the  Tree,  Care  and 
Cultivation,  Pruning,  Spraying,  Picking,  Packing  and 
Marketing. 

Forty-eight  illustrations.     12mo.     Cloth.      Net,  $1.50 


Bird  Studies  for  Home  and  School. 

By  Herman  C.  DeOroat,  M.  A. 

Sixty  common  birds,  thoir  habits  and  haunts.     Forty 

full  page  colored  illustrations. 

Large  8vo.     Handsomely  illustrated.  Net,  $2.00 


181 


Date 

Due 

'.' 

mii»Tw? 

lAY  26  98 

mY29  > 

- 

Library  Bureau  Cat,  No.  1137 


UNIVERSr 


YOFPi 


3  1210  01275  2901 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACII 

III'  '"11"' "  '!!  !l'l ''  II '  II'  I'  l~ 


AA    000  652  334    4 


PT9312 


l6a3 


Strindberg,  August. 
Lucky  Pehr. 


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